A Blueprint to Kickstart Your 2020

A new year and new decade are around the corner!

Have you taken any time to reflect on what will help you “run with perseverance the race marked out” for you in 2020?

Here are six questions designed to help you reflect on the year that’s been and refocus you to run the next leg of your race in 2020:

1.  What can you celebrate from 2019?

Most of us don’t celebrate enough. Too often, we concentrate on problems or simply just don’t take time to reflect on what’s gone well. Start your 2020 focus by celebrating 2019.

  • Make a list of moments and milestones you can celebrate.
  • Create a list of forward steps, breakthroughs, good surprises and blessings (get to at least 20).
  • Take some time to thank God.
  • Think about how you could celebrate – and then celebrate!

2. What have you learned in 2019?

Taking time to pause and reflect on what you are learning is a habit that can pay big dividends. Here are some questions to help you look back and reflect on what you have learned this year.

  • What have you learned about God?
  • About yourself?
  • About life and leadership?
  • What have you learned through mistakes, failure and hard times? Remember that even failure can be your friend if you learn from it.

 3. Who should you thank?

Make a list of people who have helped, blessed, prayed, encouraged, opened doors, sacrificed, mentored, and stood with you this year. Then, take action!

  • Write a thank you note.
    • Consider going “old school” with paper, envelope and stamp.
    • Be specific in expressing your gratitude and encouragement.
    • Send it in the first week of January to avoid the Christmas blur.

4. What’s essential in 2020?

As you look to the year ahead, what is essential? From your perspective today, what will matter most? What is critical?

  • Try to answer more broadly than your work essentials. Make short lists for these six categories – your spiritual life, emotional health, physical health, key relationships, growth and impact.
  • Go back over your lists. Try to discern what is actually essential and what may be just important or helpful or interesting. Not everything on your list is equal.
  • Identify top priorities. Invite input from God, your key relationships, your supervisor, your team, your clients, etc. to get shared clarity on what is essential. Then, take some time to make clear plans to live out and get traction on these priorities.

5. What’s holding you back?

Racing teams go to extreme lengths to identify and then eliminate anything that may be causing unnecessary resistance. In other words, what’s holding you back? As Hebrews 12:1 says, “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”

  • Take inventory. It could be an unhealthy mindset, a missing skillset, a too-small vision of God, fears, a team that isn’t aligned, a sin area, a lack of focus, a mission that is unclear, too many distractions, not having clear priorities or strategy, etc. Whatever it is for you, if you can identify what’s holding you back, you can formulate a plan to address and eliminate.

6. What will you do to get sharper in 2020?

How are you planning to sharpen yourself and your leadership this next year? The growing complexity and speed of change in our world means we need to keep learning, growing and developing ourselves.

The costs of coasting are way too high. What steps can you take to invest in your development? Maybe a mentor, a coach, a course, or a conference? Maybe you would benefit from Arrow’s new Leadership Tune-Up, one-on-one coaching or the Arrow Leadership ProgramTM? Remember that we have a next step for you – and we are here to help!

This last thought is the most important. As always, the best thing you can do in 2020 is to “..fix your eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Cheering you on as you follow Jesus in 2020!

Dr. Steve Brown
President, Arrow Leadership
steveb@arrowleadership.org