If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you may have realized an underlying theme of “doing to learn” and “learning to do.” It’s about trying new behaviors, succeeding or failing, learning and trying again. The pivotal part of this whole process is the “learning part” i.e. improving each time you try based on new experiences & insights.
From this perspective, it’s less important if you succeed or fail, as long as you learn from it. Taking it a step further, it’s proven that we actually learn more from our failures than successes. This is an especially important lens to adopt as you scan your experience for significant learnings.
- Think of key events that occurred in 2018 and list them quickly on a piece of paper (scan your calendar if you need it as a reminder)
- Highlight events that evoke more intense memories & emotion (successes or failures…it doesn’t matter)
- For those highlighted, take a moment to write a key learning next to each (don’t overthink it, do it quickly)
- Based on this short-list of learnings, look for a common theme. There may not be one (so don’t force it), but with a bit of reflection & reframing you will typically find a “red thread” that ties them together (this is where the magic happens!).
- Then ask yourself – “so what?” What can I do differently in 2019 to build on this learning and move forward.
- Finally, share it! Tell someone what you learned. It’s a great way to put it in words and have someone hold you accountable.
…to follow-up on the previous point, I’d LOVE for you to share one of your “2018 lessons” in the comments below. No need to share personal details…just the key learning that is most valuable to you. Depending on the response, I’d like to feature some of these on this blog in the coming year.
Thanks so much for your faithful readership! I wish you a blessed Christmas & Happy New Year. May you continue on the journey of “doing to learn” and “learning to do.”
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Great article with easy to follow steps! My key learning was not to doubt myself.
For 2019, I want to add value anytime I think I can. Worst case, I’ll better learn where to focus my energy. Best case, I’ll make a positive difference for those around me!
2018 Lesson: in a year filled with lots of moving pieces (professionally- personally- experientially- ect), i too-often jumped to conclusions before the moving pieces had “slowed” enough for refection. 2019 will be a year focused on “being in the Present”, even when dust has not settled on Happenings yet, and learning to appreciate the dust before it settles.