Ensuring Success with Clear 2020 Vision

A Message by Michael J. Bickert, President of Bickert Management.

It is customary during this time of year for people to make New Year's resolutions, set goals, and commit to the pursuit of self-improvement in any number of ways. In hopes of better health, stronger relationships, and enhanced finances, we reflect on both the challenges and victories represented by the various events which defined and shaped the outgoing year and imagine how we might achieve greater success in the year to come.

There is value in taking time for introspection and assessing our life's trajectory. However, it is moot if the exercise is exclusively contemplative and devoid of action. Hence, following sufficient time spent in mindful consideration of your journey, both past and future, I urge you to employ strategies likely to result in the meaningful improvement you seek.

Failure to Plan is a Plan to Fail

Proverbs 21:5 says, "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."

Be sure to include these critical constituents as part of your plan.

It's important to make an effort to build healthy and stronger relationships.

Brainstorm

Allow your mind to roam while you ask yourself questions, such as:

What is working well in my life? What is not?

What do I most enjoy? What do I least enjoy?

What are my strengths? What are my weaknesses?

How do I define success?

What important knowledge do I lack? What do I know is true, yet continue to ignore?

What things do I need to measure and track?

What are my foundational objectives? What milestones will I pursue along the way to my ultimate goals?

It's important to organize the document into an outline for your plan.

Document Everything

Write down or record the thoughts you have from your brainstorming sessions. Then, organize the document into an outline for your plan. Remember, the difference between a dream and a goal is an action plan. Supplement your plan's outline with details, such as action items, dates, measurements, and resources, to better guide you down the road ahead.

Measure

That which is measured improves. So, quantify those things that represent your current state and continue to track these with the passage of time and implementation of your plan. Time has a way of revealing mistakes and imparting valuable wisdom. Avoid discouragement by assigning value to the experience you gain while failing. In recognition of the inevitability of obstacles, define rejection and setbacks as essential practice. Never resent practice. Make adjustments to your plan as you go and as newfound knowledge and wisdom demand.

Waiting for a surge of motivation before taking action is futile.

Execute

When I was quite young, I learned that most people mistakenly believe that action follows motivation, when, in fact, the opposite is always true. Waiting for a surge of motivation before taking action is futile. Instead, take action and engage your plan; begin checking off action items, no matter how seemingly insignificant they are. You will find that productivity and the accomplishment of even the smallest tasks are motivational and serve to fuel your execution of the master plan. Developing discipline and habitually engage in those activities you have defined as critical without fail. The feeling of motivation is fleeting and has a short shelf-life. Therefore, you must replenish it through action, discipline, and ritual. Also, recognize that motivation comes from within; you cannot motivate someone else. Trying to do so is a waste of your precious time. Surround yourself with people of action and never let anyone else extract energy from you through some well-intended but misguided attempt to light a fire within another.

If you are hopeful that unimaginable success will unfold for you in the new year, I advise you to think again. There is very little power in merely hoping. By contrast, genuine decisions, the no-matter-what kind, hold great power. Be the architect of your 2020's by deciding to implement a well-documented plan for improvement that originates from your introspection and imagination. And, always remember, "If it is to be, it's up to me!"

Happy New Year!

Michael J. Bickert

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