Yes, it’s that time of year again when gym membership reaches the highest enrollment level of the year, where patches are placed on arms to stop smokers from lightning up and new spread sheets are established to finally conquer our household budgets.
Unless you’re just a total dead beat, you do think about how to make improvements in your life in some way. That’s a good thing! However just like some businesses with whom I work, their efforts are futile because the goals, drives or approaches are disjointed, confusing and over time, discouraging for themselves and others.
So, is there a better way? I think so and it has two primary focus.
1) looking back
2) determine the purpose for improvement going forward.
> First look back ….before making a declaration of the new you or turning over a new leaf.
In this first step analyze the cause.
Elon Musk is without question a “case study” in many areas of life and business. Walter Isaacson who wrote the biography on Musk recounted in an interview that every year around Christmas time when Elon’s and his brother’s families get together, they have a time to talk about their “regrets” of the past year. What were those actions, decisions, or words which they might plead for a “do-over”?
Paul Bear Brayant once said, “you can learn more from wining, but you’d be wise to study the causes for loss, you can learn a lot there too.” (paraphrased)
So, in 2023 what were the trigger(s) that caused the habit of over-eating?
What were the circumstances that drove you to use the credit cards to excess and acquire suffering debt?
Did you neglect proper marketing research before launching that new product line?
You get my drift, looking back for a better future is more than just saying “I need to do better”.
>Second Looking Forward.. What it the Purpose for change?
For many (individuals and organizations), change is “more of the same, just better”. But change requires thinking and behaving differently. Real change sometimes requires radical discipline. A never-ending pursuit to achieve the desired improvement.
In his mid-forties, Bob Buford, author of the book “Half-Time” determined that he wanted his life, business, and relationships to count for more than money, stuff, and the routine.
It’s reported that Buford said, “I wanted to go from success to significance, from making money to making a difference.”
With that he imagined what he wanted to be in his industry, what he wanted to be to his family, to his employees, to his community and to his God. After establishing the Purpose, he then began the strategy to make that happen in each area of his life.
During my mid-forties, I honestly and humbly evaluated my life and began to seek purpose for it.
As I’ve said during many of my lectures to business leaders and students “I don’t believe God put you on this earth to suck up air for 80 years and then die. You have a purpose, and your job is to seek it out”
As I flew across the Atlantic heading home from a business assignment I wrote (on an airplane napkin(s), a “Purpose Statement” for my life, for my business, and for my marriage.
Each statement was followed by key points of intentionality and strategies. As life circumstances developed, some strategies required adjustments or elimination, but the “Core” for each has never changed.
So, in 2024 I will look back and determine in what area’s I regret. But I will not dwell on it nor beat myself up.
Like the Apostle Paul said in part “Forgetting what’s behind…I Press On for the prize set before me…”
Then I’ll establish new or different strategies that will get me back in line with my Purpose.
I’m not the brightest guy but I know too many people who “sleepwalk” through life.
I don’t want to be one of those guys.
All of this can only be done with God’s help as I strive to
“Finish Well”
Happy New Year!
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