AHEAD OF NEW YEAR!

5 min readDec 30, 2019

Something to ponder on.

So here we are again, from the shouts of previous year excitements “Happy New Year” to a minute later texting our contact and returning calls up until an hour later. It came as a surprise to know we were already in June (the half of the year). Quickly, we recall the achievements and regrets we have had during the year. The joy of a new born child, that birthday celebration, marriage, anniversary, promotion, breakthrough. Not forgetting the loss of our beloved friends and family, loss of time, an opportunity, a contract. It really had been a memorable year now that we are at the end of it already and many had started planning for the incoming years.

That magical season is upon us again. The season where we feel we need to plan and change a lot of things for the new year. It’s exhausting enough to know that a million people believe change, planning, goals setting and visions are only done towards the end of a year. Many believe once they enter the new year, they are a new person and discard whatever they had done before now.

Anyways, either you believe so or not, tomorrow could mean a new day for you and indeed you should have a plan for it also.

There could be many “ways, principles, tools and key point” to start the new year. I believe many of you already have a clear vision for the incoming year. Still, there are few things I find useful that could help you plan ahead.

From the following mentioned below, select and follow the guides you feel will help you.

Character and Self Development
Finance
Relationship with God
Family
Academics
Business and Career
Relationship and Marriage
Life Matters Generally.

“It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward.”
• Old Chinese Proverb

#VISIONS

Create a Vision Board

Where do you see yourself at the end of the next year?
What do you stand to achieve.
What is the bigger picture of your own self tomorrow.

#PLANNING

Plan for the New year already

Start by evaluating yourself in previous years.
Note out your past errors, strength, weaknesses, opportunities and things you know you could have done better.
Plan each phase one after the other (i.e family, academics, finance, career, etc).
Write the plan out and back it up over your cloud for review from time to time.
Plan for goals you haven’t imagine to achieve but are achievable.

#PRAYERS

Commit your plans to God

It’s your duty to plan, but God brings this plans to limelight.
Pray always about the plans from the start of the year even down to the end.

#TARGET DATES

Set Achievement Time Frame

Usually the year has 12 months, you can plan to achieve few goals in between certain month. For example quarterly — January to March, April to June, July to September, October to December.
Plan for progress evaluation at the end of each quarter or time frame planned by you.

#MENTORSHIP

Discuss your plan with a Mentor or Accountability partner

Get a mentor or accountability partner whose duty is to guide you through your plans and checkmate your progress.

#CHALLENGES

Anticipate Challenges

Accept the things you didn’t plan for when they show up.
Accept failure but never accept defeat.
Prepare to be discomforted.
When challenges come, don’t fret, only push harder

#EXECUTION

Just Do It Already

Don’t wait for the first day of the year before you start executing your plans.
Just do it already.
Be intentional about your goals.
Start with little, start with nothing but most importantly Start Already.

#REWARDS AND COMPENSATION

Plan Reward packages

You also deserve to be rewarded for every goal you achieve.
What will you reward yourself with when you achieve those goals?
Rewards are also a form of motivation as much as they encourage you to achieve those goals. For example, treat self with a vacation to Dubai if goal xyz is achieved before the forth quarter.

You did well this year and can always do better next year. Hence, don’t settle for little. Go all out in becoming the better best of yourself.

Till I find the strength to write to you my distinguished readers once again, I remain yours always.

Solanke Olamilekan K.