Reflect-Assess-Adapt-Plan – SHINE! It’s a new year!

 2024 is here! Let’s ROCK IT!

A new beginning – A new opportunity.

I’m bringing in the New Year keynoting for over 900 folks at the Wisconsin Fairs Association Centennial Convention – Celebrating the Past, Cultivating the Future. While they are all county fairs with many common traditions, their management, funding, budget, governance, and size are all very different – so at very different places with their fundraising. It’s been a total delight to be part of an experience that includes a carnival, talent showcases with great bands and comedians, and Fairest of the Fair Competition. These 35 contestants are both trained and compete in speaking, fundraising, marketing, and interviewing as part of a 3-day competition. I spent some time with them sharing confidence-building mindset tools, and of course, a 3-sentence ask!

Reflect – Assess – Adapt – Plan

For all of us, each new year gives us a fresh start – a chance to set aside time to “celebrate our past and cultivate our future!” 

Consider doing this….

1 – Reflect – where are you right now. CREATE “BOOKS” You can feel blessed and grateful and discouraged all at the same time. Write down key experiences – go through a calendar or your picture library – good and challenging. Picture all of these experiences in the past year or more as a book on a shelf.  All your failures and successes – Your year is on the shelf.

2 – Assess – what do you want to take with you into 2024?  Consider that now you find out a fire is coming that will burn the bookshelf! You have only a small suitcase you can pack with books!

3 – Adapt – what do you want to leave behind? Pluck from what you learned. If you know what went wrong – don’t do it again. What stories or thoughts held you back in 2023? “I’m afraid we won’t reach that goal.” “I don’t think I have time to do that.”

What if you could watch a film of the person you COULD HAVE BEEN if you hadn’t let the fear hold you back…the year without the excuse and stories.

“I’m too young.” “I’m too old.” “People tell me I can’t do it.” We don’t have the resources.” I have too much on my plate.” “It’s a rough economy.” “There’s too much competition for dollars.” My boss…  My spouse… My kids….

Turn these around.

Because I am young (or old) I have an advantage over everyone else!  More energy, more wisdom.

What do you want to take into the new year – let the rest burn.

4 – Plan – It’s January 2025. You look back and realize that 2024 was the BEST year you have ever had!  What is different? What happened?

WRITE OUT 3-5 RESULTS OF 2024 (yes 2024)

• We have doubled our major gifts.
• I am in the best shape of my life.
• I do not dim my light to get along with others. I SHINE!
• My board members have each contributed to our success.

Yours can have more specifics. The point is to say them often as if they have already happened. This becomes your compelling future. Consider why having these accomplished is so important to you – attach emotion to this. You will need this compelling future because stuff is going to happen. You will be disappointed. Craft this story and focus on it every day.

The biggest sales job you need to do is on YOU! Most people know what they DON’T want or like and they talk about it every day!  YIKES! Change that conversation in 2024!  Prove all the naysayers WRONG!

And…remember, I believe in you, I appreciate the work you do, and I am here to remind you of the special gift you are to the world!

Happy New Year!

Invest in JOY®