This is Johanna Rothman’s December 2024 Create an Adaptable Life Newsletter. The unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this email.
I’m doing my version of planning for next year. I set not more than three big, overarching goals. Then, I develop tactics I can use—but I do not have to use—to accomplish that goal.
Here’s what that looks like for me for 2025:
- Tactics: Finish my store and the Effective Public Speaking book. (I thought I could complete both this year, but with only 21 days remaining in the year, I might not. That’s why finishing old work is at the top of my list.)
- Strategy: Increase overall word count so I can write and finish the nonfiction books, and write longer fiction.
- Tactic to fulfill a possible strategy: Experiment with a Kickstarter for nonfiction. (I have plenty of fiction colleagues who use Kickstarter to good effect.)
Yes, that’s it. I have many (many, many!!) more options for what I might do next year. But they all hinge on writing more words.
I can change these goals because life will change. But I have these goals because I have already answered some questions about what I want for my next year.
None of these are resolutions. (I hate resolutions.) However, each of these goals will help me clarify where I want to go with my business and life.
I used these three essential questions to clarify my goals and plans.
Essential Question 1: What Do I Want?
With apologies to the Spice Girls, we can’t develop any overarching goal without knowing what we want, what we really, really want.
Some people recommend you sit with this question and noodle it for a while. I’m not one of those.
If you’re an extrovert, ask a trusted friend or partner to ask you this inside a 90-second timebox: “What do you want?”
Now, answer that person. Sure, if you’re an extrovert, you might have to clarify the question. And if you’re like me, you might need two minutes, not 90 seconds. But timebox your answer. None of us need more goals—we’ve got plenty. Instead, we need to simplify. The fewer goals we have, the simpler our decisions are.
If you’re an introvert, take 90 seconds to think about this. Maybe even write a few ideas down. Now, choose one. Maybe two. A maximum of three. If you need to discuss this with your trusted friend or partner, that’s fine, but make sure you answer this quickly.
The quickness prevents any of us from thinking too hard and wondering what other people want us to do. We need to choose for ourselves.
Essential Question 2: What Will I Say No To?
No one can keep adding more to do. We have to choose what to stop doing so we can choose the next thing. I’ve written about this a lot on my other blog. See Create More Success: How to Say No to “Everything” to Say Yes to What’s Necessary Now for the organization’s perspective. And see this more personal series that starts with Saying No to More Work.
Here’s the real problem: Your “yes’s” mean nothing if you never say no.
Essential Question 3: How Do Your Decisions Make You Feel?
Write down up to three goals. (That’s why I showed you my examples.) And write down what you will stop doing so you can accomplish those goals.
Now, check in with yourself. How do you feel about these decisions? Are you happy? Anticipatory? Nervous? Those are all terrific feelings. You can create habits and systems for tactics that help you succeed with these goals.
What if you feel fear or dread or panic? Maybe those aren’t the goals you really want.
Listen to your body. And if you still want to accomplish those goals, decide how you will convert that fear, dread, or panic to tactics that will help you succeed.
Plan Loosely for Maximum Impact
The looser your plans, the more impact you can create because you can adapt as necessary. That’s why goals are so helpful, instead of resolutions or plans.
And if you do use these ideas, please let me know what happens.
Announcements…
Register now for the Q1 2025 Writing Workshop 1: Free Your Inner Writer & Sell Your Nonfiction Ideas. If you write fiction, I have options for how you can use this workshop for your content marketing.
If you are part of the agile community, consider checking out The Agile Network. Here’s a discount code for you: 20 % off all memberships with ROTHMAN12P202. (That code expires on Dec 31, 2024.)
Links
My Books. (If you’ve read any author’s book, please consider leaving a review. Your reviews help readers find books.)
See my Linktree with all the relevant links.
Till next time,
Johanna
© 2024 Johanna Rothman