Some people say failing to plan is planning to fail. I'm planning some major success in 2018. I love planning. I adore planning and planners. I love the paper, the ink, all of the potential, and getting things done. I feel excited about the possibilities in a new year, the "blank slate" of it all. Every January we get a fresh start and a whole 12 months to accomplish some of our life's dreams. How fun!! When it comes to an actual planner, I’m both fickle and loyal. I change planners a lot, but I never give one away. And I usually come back to a good planner. I love paper systems, and I also like the efficiency of online systems. I tend to bounce around a little bit depending on if I’m working on big projects, or lots of little projects. I love this time of year, because this is when I plan my most ambitious, heartfelt, and visionary goals that are focused on me. That includes my business, my family and also my spirituality, fitness, and more. Right now I’m setting 2018 goals and outlining all the tasks and milestones needed to achieve those goals. The whole idea of wrapping up my future major achievements into a tidy list of “things to do” sets my mind and soul at peace. The dreaming part gives me a chance to be creative. I excitedly get my colored pens and pencils out, pick up a luxurious planner with beautiful, smooth paper and begin writing, planning, and organizing to my heart’s content. Ahhhh…. (click on pics for info) I’ve been a planner aficionado for decades I’ve tried them all - Levenger, Franklin, Filofax, etc. And I’ve used all the sizes. I even put tasks in Outlook for awhile. I never throw a planner out. I develop a love for each one, and I rotate through the refillables. Sometimes I look through my old planners that I’ve filled out for a ride down memory lane. During one year, I might change my planner depending on what I’m working on. I might be working on one very large project and need more of a “big picture”. Or I might be working on many small details and need more task orientation. In that case, I’ll change my format. Right now I am loving the Ink & Volt (I&V) planner and the DragonTree Dream Book (DT). They are both lovely and allow for annual planning that breaks down into chunks. When it comes to then planning daily tasks, I&V transfers to a notepad, while DT has the space for tasks in it. The DT planner incorporates more mystical and “woo-woo” recommendations like yoga and meditation for identifying goals and staying aligned. I like this, but it's not for everyone. This year I have fitness, business, creativity, and specific writing goals that I am outlining in my planner. I am starting with the DT planner which is very comprehensive. It reaches both ends of the “big picture-to-task detail” spectrum very nicely. I may stick with this planner for awhile, or I may transfer some of my daily to do list to either my Filofax or an online system that I like called Todoist. My hope for myself and for you that 2018 is a year of growth, learning, love, and success. I’m convinced that to the degree that we take time now to set our intentions, define a clear path, and prioritize actions along that path, one year from now we will be enjoying the fruits of our planning time. For now, it's important to plan like a frickin' boss. So, let's do this! I'm offering a free 30-minute consult specifically on defining your 2018 goals. Email me at lisa@lovingmylife.us for more info. I look forward to talking with you! If you're not ready for a chat, I’d love to just know what you’re planning, and what tools you use to help you. Please comment on this blog! You'll be helping me and others. Big hugs to you, my friends! Lisa
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Saying goodbye to 2017 is like saying goodbye to a relationship I’ve outgrown. I learned a lot. There were very good times and some tough times. Now it is time to turn the page.
I believe one purpose in life is to personally grow. With each year, hopefully we reach goals, jump unexpected hurdles, discover new aspects of ourselves, come closer to God, and understand more about what is important to us and why we’re here. That was 2017 for me. My mother passed away this year. We were not close, but I was involved in her care at the end and helped make decisions for her comfort and to support her wishes. I feel grateful to have specifically (with my sister and brother) helped support her final wishes of spending her last days in her home and helping her pass with dignity and in peace. This year I traveled, had great times with friends and family, built my business, and pushed myself to be more honest about who I am with myself and with others. I am more honest now about my personal and professional experiences of abuse. I feel grateful to others who really put themselves out there, to the Silence Breakers and the #MeToo movement for being role models for speaking out and being honest. For my business I expanded my coaching practice to offer more support to my clients in a variety of convenient ways. I also offered online support groups. And (drumroll, please!) I started my book which I plan to release early next year. I am SO excited about that. My book is part business book and part memoir. I’ll be telling more about it in coming months, so please subscribe to my blog. Personally, I finally had the back surgery I put off for four years, I started my daily meditation practice, and I focused my reading on spirituality and metaphysics. All of my new habits feel congruent with my True Self, and I feel myself opening up more and more. I started this year marching in the Women’s March in Houston on March 21, and I spoke up often this year about what I saw as a “chipping away” at human rights in our country. Gloria Steinem said, “Women grow radical with age. One day an army of gray-haired women may quietly take over the earth.” I feel myself getting more radical with age. I understand what she’s talking about. We become more brave. We get tired of censoring ourselves, apologizing, and acquiescing. The butterfly must emerge from the cocoon. I look forward to my new adventures, challenges and growth in 2018. And I look forward to my local and online friends sharing with me how they are learning and growing too. We are all in this life together, after all. To 2017, thank you… and buh-bye. Big hugs, everybody!
Snarky fun. Enjoy! Oh, and Buh-Bye...2017.
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AuthorLisa Liszcz has over 20 years of experience developing leaders and teams in four different global organizations in a variety of industries. In 2014 she became an entrepreneur and is rocking her inner superhero and loving her life like mad. Archives
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