As we approach year-end many of us are beginning to look ahead to the new year.
But first, let’s look back at the year with an eye to a simple review - because it is helpful to reflect on highlights from the prior year as a foundation to looking ahead to the next year.
Athletes know this principle.
That is why on Monday most every football team reviews the “game film” from the prior weekend’s game; by studying the previous game’s experience the next game can be improved.
With the same principle in mind, this is the time of year to look back at the previous twelve months. For starters, we can ponder the following:
- What have we learned?
- What have we accomplished?
- What have we missed?
- What did we start doing?
- What did we stop doing (or should we stop doing!)?
- Who did we meet?
- Who did we miss?
- For what am I grateful?
- For who am I grateful?
We can each add to this list our own pertinent questions. The key is to look at the prior year’s “game films;” to look (first) Back (then) To The Future.
After reflecting on this last year, and data-mining all we can from the lessons we have learned, we will have a foundation for plotting our course ahead.
Then, two weeks from today, we will take a look at 2012. Returning to this topic, we will then focus back to the future.
