So, here we are, smack dab in the midst of what I like to call “holiday creep.” That zone that fools us into thinking we can take the rest of the year off. It lulls us into a comatose state, similar to how we’ll feel after we’ve eaten too many holiday goodies.
While it’s great to be able to take time off during the holidays to spend with family and friends—and we should—not having a R.E.A.L plan in place for next year is essentially like building a house on sand.
I call it a R.E.A.L plan because it’s
- Realistic
- Engaging
- Authentic
- Long lasting
Pick a theme
Instead of making a new year’s resolution, which most likely gets abandoned during the first two weeks, how about picking a theme for 2016? Choose a word or phrase that reflects your focus for this particular time of your life.
I thought a lot about what my theme for 2016 should be. I wanted it to have meaning and be something that would push me toward my goals.
Some of the ideas I came up with during my brainstorming session:
- Be intentional
- Be committed
- Be focused
- Honor
- Dedicate
- Listen
- Live with Purpose
- Live on Purpose
- Live fully
- Discipline
- Make it Matter
- It. Big
All of these reflected something I wanted/needed to do, but none felt quite right. Then, one Sunday in church, my pastor talked about the annual giving campaign.
It’s called Making Waves.
I knew right then that this was my theme for 2016.
Making Waves:
- Reminds me to give/serve
- Reminds me to not be afraid of making waves
Spend 2 minutes on coming up with a list of words or phrases that could be your theme for 2016. There is NO right or wrong. This should be a free-for-all. You can edit later, but don’t filter your thoughts now. Let me know what you come up with in the comments below.
If you’d like to dig deeper and create an entire plan for 2016, please register for my webinar, Get a R.E.A.L Plan in 2016, on Tuesday, December 29, at 1pm EST.
Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season.
Thank you for sharing this space with me!
Robin Taney, (aka the “Get R.E.A.L Girl”) is the owner and founder of Studio 4 PR. She works with creative, independent, and “kitchen table” entrepreneurs who are highly motivated to be found by their perfect client. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, and sign up for her mailing list You are welcome to use this post on your blog, provided you do not alter it in any way and include a link to this blog.
Robin is also a co-author of the bestselling book, Navigating Entrepreneurship: Secrets to Put You on an Unstoppable Course, (July, 2014) which hit #1 in Hot New Releases within 12 hours of launching on Amazon.