2011 Annual Review: Looking Forward — My theme for 2012
Hey guys – can I be honest? Publishing my previous post made me really queasy… so, if, in any way, it seemed like I was boasting about everything that went down in my 2011 — my sincerest, sincerest apologies. It was never written with that intention, but really just to share my thought process in how I assess my year. ^w^
Because if it isn’t obvious yet, I’m a HUUUUUUGE self-improvement nut. (I was that classmate in high school who obsessed about the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens and spent hours answering the accompanying workbook and exercises. Man, I loooooved that book. Read it so many times. #SEANCOVEY4LYFE! WHUT WHUT)
In the real world, there are no more report cards to nervously wait for and/or hide from your mom. We are left without that safe and ever-dependable barometer to see if we’re doing well or not. We gotta do it ourselves — if not, we’ll end up depending on others’ definitions of success.
As Randy Pausch, author of one of my bibles in life, says: “The only way any of us can improve is if we develop a real ability to assess ourselves… We need to let [students] know how to judge for themselves how they’re coming along.”
So my intention has always been to empower other people to become more self-aware & driven — thus the ‘young go-getters’ guide’ I put together. So far, I’ve received various tweets telling me that they used the guide to review their year & to put together a 2012 road map. Plus, I’ve also seen two people blog about their own road maps: Kaye and Pinky! Please know that I’m extremely, sincerely happy and kilig to have helped even in that small, small way :) Leave a link in the comments if you blogged about it too! Game, I wanna read it!
Are you one of those people?
One of the people with too many good ideas? The folks who have notebooks filled with notions, or daydreams filled with the future?
You’ve certainly met these people. They’re too busy taking notes to get anything done, too busy inventing to actually instigate.
To stop this process, one needs to do only two things: Start. And then… SHIP.
It’s one of the more quiet disappointments that I had about last year, the one that I wish I could just disregard, but can’t — as much as I don’t want to admit it, I was more of a brainstormer than a doer last year. I carried around so many good ideas in my notebook, spent so much time in the shower lost in ideas and plans — but as Seth says, to merely brainstorm, or to merely start without finishing is just boasting, or stalling, or a waste of time.
So this year, I wanna ship BIG. I want to stop this nasty, persistent habit of mine: of spending FOREVER to make something perfect.
Shipping isn’t about coming out with the perfect project — it’s about releasing what you have to the world, putting it out there — simply getting it out the door.
Think of it this way: A great politician is inspiring — maybe through his or her solid branding, impressive words and moving speeches.
But a great leader is EMPOWERING — s/he gives people the push and the tools they need to actually move and act for themselves.
Does that make any sense? But basically, that’s my biggest challenge for myself this year: to make sure that there’s an empowerment component/tool in every project I get into.
OH MY GOD I’M really turning into Oprah, aren’t I? Oh wait. I meant, #SEANCOVEY4LYFE
I don’t want to get into the nitty-gritties of my goals (maybe not today), but to the left you’ll see the Excel file I made for my 2012 road map. It’s a more detailed take on what I posted in my goal-setting guide. Hint: It contains more bill-pushing, writing, teaching, collaborating, and dancing ;)
If Excel is not for you, that’s perfectly fine: another alternative is to do a mind map (you still remember those from grade school?) Big circles for categories, link it out to smaller circles for your subgoals — you can even make it as creative as you want.
the most important part of all
I also want to start my year by saying thank you to everyone who helped me through all these last 2011:
My co.lab family (Dan, Chesa, Margaux, Tasha), my Senate colleagues, my friends who I hope are still my friends even if I don’t always show up for get-togethers, my collaborators/mentors/inspirations, the people who lent their trust and support for Design Para sa Lahat, Nicole & Nana of FGD, and all the people who put up with reading my blog – even if I write so much longer than most bloggers ;) And lastly, the epitome of empowerment, who has let me run free and dream big since the beginning, STG. Thank you for sharing yourselves with me. YOU GUYS were the best part of my 2011!
Happy first day of January!
Klarisse -
I am far from being organized enough to follow your previous guide, hehe. But after seeing how so many people put effort into the new year’s goals/resolutions/etc., I wrote a post of my own. Then I read this (and the two people who followed your guide too) and realized, plotted out road map or not, it all starts with choosing a theme and sticking to it! :P
Kaye -
Oh my gosh, hello there! :))
I wasn’t really able to streamline my own goals as much as I wanted to (in terms of having specific action plans, I mean, but I think that deviation allowed me to put my own spin on it since I like having room to move around) but your guide was a huge help. I feel super motivated already!
Have a great 2012! :)
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Ella -
I just want to let you know that I really appreciate all your Annual Review posts! Thank you, it was my first time making a road map this comprehensive. I’ve also taken note of the authors that you’ve mentioned. I was also that high school student too who read 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. I also suggest that you read if you haven’t yet: Stephen Covey’s 7 habits of Highly Effective People and Living the 7 Habits (which I read in college naman hehe). Looking forward to your future posts :)