Going into the New Year
It’s time for you to make time to stare into space – rest and reboot!
1. Make decisions quickly and take action.
Successful people decide and DO. Make a decision. You can always make another decision. And the more you make the better you get at making great ones. Take action! Past donors in their 70’s who biked hundreds of miles exploring foreign places this past year wrote in their holiday greeting, “It’s better to wear out than rust out!”
2. Make a GRAND 2018 PLAN.
I create a BIG, COLORFUL VISUAL 2018 calendar. It gives me clarity and power. I begin by blocking days OFF – every Sunday, vacations, retreats, continued learning and renewal. THEN I add key family events – birthdays, reunions. Finally my speaking, band, event dates already booked, my regular communications – like this ezine. This process helps me blend personal and professional goals.
3. What 2-3 BIG Goals do you want to achieve? Start a family tradition.We have a tradition.
Sometime around January 1st the family sits around the table. Each has an 8 ½ by 5 ½ sheet of yellow paper and colorful markers. We put our names on the top then every family member writes one goal for themselves and each other. We look at last year and talk about how it went. Over the past decade doing this, our ability to set and achieve our goals has skyrocketed!
4. Reflection, gratitude, perception.
A noted “trendspotter” reported 2017 was a year of “disruption and despair.” Goodness. Glad I don’t live in her world. I promise you, what you are looking for you will find. Be that sorrow, mistakes of co-workers, gifts that didn’t work out or the shortcomings of friends, family and leaders. 2017 was one of my most uplifting and joyful years! What did you see and perceive? Bet it came true.
5. Opportunity Knocks!
When you are clear on what you want, don’t fret about exactly HOW you will get there. The road is rarely straight and clear – rather there are snow drifts, curves, detours and delays. These are opportunities disguised as new relationships and experiences that will propel you towards your goals! Don’t ignore them because they were not part of the steps you envisioned.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your navigation system. May your path in 2018 be filled with wonder, joy and light! And yes – hairpin turns, hills, tunnels, road-work and potholes – therein lies the magic!
Invest in JOY®
Marcy Heim is a trusted authority in the development profession and helps organizations and educational institutions boost their major gift programs through artful, long-term relationship building that dramatically increases fundraising success while promoting increased staff job satisfaction. To receive a free chapter from Marcy’s book, Empower Your Board to Serve as Effective Development Ambassadors, click here.
Questions: Contact KK Konicek at KK@MarcyHeim.com
