As we get closer to closing out the first quarter of 2022, I thought it was a good time to reflect on the year – what has gone well and what still needs to be worked on.

The bad news is that I’m definitely off course and still have a lot of ground to make up.

But the good news? It’s up to me to rip up my map and create a new one.

Let me explain:

Every year I write up a business plan. However, this guiding document is never just about business. My detailed plan also covers my goals and aspirations; personal, professional, and financial.

Setting personal and financial goals is every bit as important as defining my business goals. The personal may even be more important, as your health, mental state, and emotions dictate everything else in your business. After all, you cannot have a balanced life with any one of those pieces missing.

So, checking in on the map I created for the year, how do I fare as we near the end of the first quarter of 2022?

I am way behind. I’m not at all on track with what I set out to do.

But why?

Am I burnt out?  Depressed?  Stressed?  Overwhelmed?

Nope.

Thankfully, I’m none of those this year. And yet, still I find myself way behind.

So, what gives?

In my experience, the best laid plans can change. They even should change. The map we were using to navigate life even months ago may not be the best map for us right now.

Our focus changes, even subtly. We rip up our map only because we’re drafting a new, better one. One thing becomes more of a priority over another.  We make on-the-fly adjustments to ensure we’re leading in a direction that makes us the best version of ourselves.

Failure to check in with family and friends puts a strain on those relationships and thus, the personal side of our equation lags.

How about health? We definitely need to prioritize health and fitness, especially when we get too busy or too preoccupied with other endeavors.

And a failure to check in on our spending and budget can place stress on the financial side.

Of course, there is the business side. As I sit here writing this, I’m mentally checking in and reassessing what I need to to do in order to reach those results I set out, maximizing the opportunities before me.

And the answer is really simple: No. Not 100% if I’m being honest.

So, how can I change it? Reset, review, re-focus and re-engage. I set to redrafting my yearly game plan with vigor and enthusiasm, not negativity.

It’s so easy to let these goals get away from us in our busy lives. Sometimes, we get off course because we are doing so well, so, from the outside looking in, there’s no reason to rip up our map and start over.

However, that’s exactly where complacency comes in, redirecting us from our true north.

But it’s up to us – we choose not to let this happen.

Right now, I am choosing not to let this happen.

Very soon, just like that, we will be through the first quarter of the year. And thanks to this honest self-assessment, I know I’ll be ready to tackle the next quarter with clarity, energy, and, most of all, gratitude.

-J.D.