What are your plans for the holidays?  You’re probably taking time off of work, relaxing and looking forward to family, friends and fun.  That’s a good start!

AND…

You can include 3 simple steps over the holidays that will help you connect and reconnect with people you trust and set you up for an amazing 2014.  When the first week of January rolls around you’ll be well ahead of the game…

Give this a try:

REFLECT on 2013.  Take a few minutes and really think about your year, the people you met and what happened in your personal and professional life.  What went great?  What goals did you achieve?  What things happened that you didn’t even expect to happen?  What went a little sideways?  What didn’t happen?

With that…  What do you WANT to happen in 2014?  Make a list, a brainstorm and put it on paper (or put it on a file on your computer).

Then…

REACH OUT to people that have achieved goals similar to what you wrote out for 2014.  The people with similar life experiences that have been-there-done-that experience.  Share the goals, problems and opportunities that you’re facing in 2014.  Be honest (about both the crazy fun goals and the not so fun problems – you have to be vulnerable if you want to be mentored).

Then ask them to share their advice, support and connections that can help you get closer to those goals, solve the problems and create the opportunities you’re looking for.  Write (or type) what they tell you and if they offer a connection ask them to make an email introduction to that person for you.  Today.

After those conversations it’s time to (this is the fun part)…

REVISE Take a look at two things right now.  1) Your original list of what you want for 2014 and NOW 2) the connections, advice and support you have to solve problems and create opportunities.  Taking a couple guesses here:

 

  1. The problems don’t look so bad when you have support to solve them and
  2. The opportunities you want to create look more achievable, closer and more exciting when you have people there to help you.

Right?

Take it in.  Enjoy the feeling.

WHAT’S NEXT?

For more results in the New Year repeat that process again and again.  It doesn’t just have to be a holiday exercise (and it shouldn’t be).  Set a calendar reminder to do that once a month.  I promise you when December of 2014 comes around you’ll have an amazing list to reflect on.

Happy Holidays!