What? Hash-tags on this blog…”I thought I’d never see the day” (you’re probably thinking). Well this post is different. Rather than just providing content (as I regularly attempt to do), I’m issuing a challenge directly to you…to take a step often overlooked…causing many to undermine their chances of even starting the new year “on the right foot.” Sufficiently confused (or interested)? Let me demystify…
Tis’ the season for new years’ resolutions – the key to focus, achievement, happiness and all things good…right? In fact if you “google it” you’ll get 35.8 million “results” on great techniques, processes, methods, etc. What could I possibly add (…that I haven’t already)? I won’t.
Rather I submit that the prerequisite for all the elaborate goal-setting-, mapping- and strategizing- techniques is to have an accurate read on your starting point…which is, in fact, your “ending point.” In other words – taking an inventory of where you are today and what lessons you’ve learned that will enable you to be more successful in the future.
What if you don’t? George Santayana, the well known Harvard professor and philosopher, said it best: “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes.”
So here’s the challenge…take a few minutes to think over the past year – adversity, successes, relationships… – all of it. Then quickly jot down the main feelings and insights that come to mind. Finally, once you have the list, clean-up, combine, refine, etc. and distill into the key lessons learned you want to hold on to.
THEN, take the challenge…SHARE your lessons learned in the comments to this post…even if it’s just one. Why? First, writing it here means you’ve taken it seriously and actually done it, versus giving yourself a pass. Second, the best learning is often what we learn from each other…so enrich others by making yourself vulnerable and sharing; and be enriched thanks to the vulnerability of others.
To give you some “starter fluid” and to practice what I’ve preached, here’s my gift of vulnerability in the form of my 8 lessons learned in 2014 in the first comment below:
(click on comment link above, under the title…)
Well, now that I’ve “put myself out there…” I ask you to take up the challenge to share one or more things you’ve learned in 2014. In fact, when you’re done, take it to the next level and challenge someone else to share theirs in the post comments!
The BIG GOAL: to have between 20 and 14 people join the exchange (numbers not a coincidence, but happy to see even more). This means at least 20 to 14 sets of lessons learned – a “mini-wikipedia” full of fresh, first-hand insights, wisdom and knowledge…and with YOU as a contributing author (and benefactor!).
(if you’d still like advice on taking the next step of setting goals you can check out one of the 35.8 million other viewpoints online…or just stay on this blog, subscribe and read your fill – here’s a few to get you started…but, most importantly, thanks for being here and…)
…I wish you a blessed 2015! Can’t wait to read and be enriched by your #2014LLE…
Picture: www.arij.net
The biggest lesson I learned in 2014 is that there is no value in holding back. Most of my life, I have been a person who gives less than everything. Whether it has been in school, relationships with others (including my wife), my walk with God, work, or pursuing goals, my approach has always been to hold back and not give 100%. This way, if I failed or things didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to, I could always say things like, “Well, I could have done that if I’d tried harder” or ” I didn’t really want that anyway.” While this approach always leaves an excuse or a way to explain your lack of success, it fails to deliver any great victories. Furthermore, it cheapens your relationships and stunts your growth. This year, I learned that the only way to approach life is to give everything you have in any relationship or endeavor that is placed before you. Leave nothing in reserve and eliminate all excuses. There is no shame in giving everything you have and failing. There is shame in failing because you were unwilling, because of fear or laziness, to give your best.
One of the biggest lessons learned in 2014 has been the importance of combining strategic planning/goal setting with flexibility. Having a plan is vitally important and gives me direction, momentum, and purpose. At the same time, I realized more than ever in the past 12 months that any plan must adapt and evolve along the way. Just going with the flow leaves you directionless, but pressing on blindly, even in the face of new (different) data, just means you’re stubborn. Have a plan, but make sure the plan can flex in light of new information, relationships, etc.
Johannes,
What an interesting coincidence! A friend recently told me about how he takes time at the end of every year to summarize key points from his journal from every month…and I just finished compiling my summary this morning! Here are some things I learned in 2014…
1) It’s not about you – people don’t care how you feel, they care how you make them feel…so don’t get too carried away about your situation. Instead, spend your internal resources reading the ‘open books’ of those around you
2) Actions and emotions can have an unintentional ripple effect – even when the ‘expresser’ has moved on to other topics, expressed emotions (especially negative ones) can continue to disturb those around them
3) Fear of criticism can be paralyzing – When you worry too much about what anyone thinks, you stop moving…and that’s almost always worse than taking a wrong step then recalibrating so…
4) The key to initiating something is taking the first step – even if it’s a wrong one (which could mean criticism!) and you have to make a course correction
5) You can choose to be right or be in a relationship (at work, home, etc.) but not both
Praying that we can all use our lessons learned as building blocks for 2015!
Hello Johannes.
I discovered your blog several weeks ago, after I had the chance to meet you during the Inn Works bootcamp in Bucharest. Then, I was impressed by your professionalism, work experience and vision. Now I’m quite surprised by your writing, especially by your openness and commitment to spirituality, God, family and other things not related to work.
I promise to be a faithful reader of your blog.
Thank you.
I wish you a happy new year, full of success, love, health, wealth and joy!
Something I have grown to appreciate this year is the supremacy of Christ, and the mercy God has given us. 2014 has provided ample opportunity to observe how God has drawn people unto Himself. Much like the “rain” Johannes referred to in the growth process, I have seen how outright calamity and the disappointments of life have directly affected those close to me; both family members and dear friends. I have grown to appreciate the fact that God has given us the wonderful gift of emotion; that a response of grief, sorrow, or hurt are natural outlets toward the trials we face. They are a manifestation of our heart and consequently, a way provided by our Father to express our true being. When we say, “goodbye” to a loved one, often times our instinct is to put on a brave face, and show a decorum when in fact, those that hurt most might just need a good hug and a few tears to minister to their inner heart. I learned that the challenge is not to internalize our emotions, but to manage them in the proper way as to glorify God and refresh our spirit. God has given me this past year to see how people have responded to calamity, and how a Godly response bears much fruit while an ungodly response is like a foundation built upon sand.
I bring you this verse which has been a real encouragement to me. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4: 8,9. Wishing you all a prosperous New Year as you seek to serve Him!
This year I have learned its OK to say “Oops I messed up”!
It’s OK to say “I’m sorry. I misjudged and took on too much”!
This doesn’t apply to all scenarios in life but I have learned this year that there is nothing wrong simply following your heart! If you truly feel the decision you are making is the best decision then I say go for it. If it doesn’t work out then SO WHAT!
What’s the worst that can happen if it doesn’t work out? You have to apologize? You have to start over? You have to admit you were wrong? So what – big deal! It’s more honorable doing that then doing nothing at all.
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Great quote from TR. Thanks for sharing…I’ll be reusing this soon!
One of the GREATEST lessons that I learned this year is that when in a CRISIS assemble a TEAM! My wife this past year was diagnosed with having breast cancer. This put an amazing amount of pressure on us all emotionally, personally, professionally, timely and financially. Having a 3 year old and being a solo practitioner in my own chiropractic clinic under these circumstances would test us all in ways I never thought imaginable. I had to assume the role of caregiver, Daddy, Mommy and Dr.Geoff to all of the patients. It TRULY was by GOD’s GRACE that he provided for us in all these areas during this time. The point of the lesson was that YOU need to be open and look around, be humble and gracious enough to accept the care from people who you never thought can step up in this type of a situation. Johannes was a huge part of this team as he and his wife were instrumental in this process. They took us under their wings and made sure we had support through this process. They still to this day help us in ways I never thought Imaginable. SO when in a crisis, develop a TEAM to help support you no matter the circumstances. I am forever grateful for this family as they truly are a GIFT from God.
Our family had the wonderful opportunity to visit my wife’s Amish grandmother in Michigan over the holidays. She wanted to contribute these 2 lessons she learned in 2014 (I wrote them down as she talked to me):
1. I had a dear friend who came into my life this year. She is very caring and often brings me gifts that meet my needs. Since I don’t have the means to repay her generosity I began to feel guilty. Finally it dawned on me: my gift to my friend is the gift of myself. It’s my time, my smile, my cheerfulness, my caring. Each of us has our own love language – that’s why friendships are special.
2. I have a relative who lives under very difficult family circumstances. Despite all the obstacles, challenges and tension in relationships, her consistent patience and kindness is remarkable. Actually, it’s exactly because of these difficulties that her qualities shine even more brightly to those around her.
Thank you Mammie!!
One of the biggest surprises in 2014 were several friendships that developed. I’ve learned that friendships are worth waiting for God’s timing. Some come so unexpectedly and I couldn’t be more thankful.
1. Stick to Priorities & the Plan: once priorities and plans are clear, stick to them and benefit from the clarity and peace of mind they bring…don’t second guess or re-prioritize too early in the game (a temptation given my broad perspective and analytical thought process – my wife can verify).
2. Realign Frequently to My Goals: I often think “I have it all in my head” – I don’t. There’s power in re-reading my commitments, verbalizing them to someone else and re-adjusting my actions accordingly. I need to do this at least monthly… otherwise slippage and “battle-haze” take over. Somehow, even if it takes longer than I’d like, I’ve made progress this year on the things I’ve focused on and thought about.
3. Experiment through Action: big-picture people (like me) like to prepare and move forward deliberately. However, in many cases you learn the most by just committing to some kind of action and “trying it out” in experimentation-/safe- mode (a lite version of the real thing…worth a blog post in the future).
4. Time Box Activity: there’s a lot I need and want to do, and as my kids get older there are more balls to juggle (activities, priorities, schedules, etc.). I need to dedicate fixed periods of time for priorities. This accomplishes two things: 1) I actually spend time on them, 2) I don’t feel guilty for not spending more time on them.
5. Family Requires Intentionality & Work: you’d think I would have learned this by now…but family is not a “given.” Relationships require time, money and saying “no” to a lot of other very cool opportunities. Here’s a convicting question for me: “have I spent as much time thinking through my ‘family relationship plan’ for 2015 as I have on one of my work projects?” I’ll spare you the answer…
6. Pouring into Relationships: I’ve had the great joy this year of deliberately pouring myself into the lives of other people through deepening relationships with them. It’s not about payback for me, or even the potential of others. It’s building relationships at a deep enough level that I can be a channel of God’s undeserved love for me to other people.
7. God is #1: my future and my humanity lie in Him…and in nothing else. Keeping site of that truth and living in that reality give peace, comfort, joy and courage in any circumstance and in a world full of uncertainty.
8. God has a Plan for Me: even if I don’t see it or it doesn’t make sense right now, I can have faith that He has steps that are ordered for me. If indeed He is who He says, I should actually expect not to understand everything all the time. It’s an opportunity to have faith and look forward to “the adventure” instead of living in fear of the unknown.