A couple of week ago, I enjoyed lunch with a colleague who stated she is glad 2011 is over. Are you glad to see it go, too?
My colleague expressed great joy that 2011 was coming to an end because it was experienced as a difficult time. The past year didn’t deliver on its promise to be the year that business goals were met and that she’d finally achieve the level of business that she desired; the 6 figure income didn’t materialize; the slim person she hoped to see in the mirror didn’t show up; nagging problems didn’t get resolved easily.
What’s up with that?
The game of setting and achieving goals was experienced as a loss. It isn’t fun to lose! Winning is really more fun, isn’t it?
2011 is ‘game over’! 2012 is a ‘new game”.
I asked my colleague what she intends to do to ensure that 2012 is a fun game and one that she can win. She clearly sees 2012 as holding the promise of better things to come.
“This year will be different,” she said.
I couldn’t help but wonder…What is really different?
Nothing much changes with the stroke of midnight.
She will wake up on January 1st, 2012 and look in the mirror and see the same face that she saw on December 31st, 2011.
If 2012 is going to be a game in the win column, then she needs to play the game in a different way. She needs a solid game plan for 2012.
I invited her to think about how she showed up to play her business game in 2011.
- Did she surround herself with players who play at the level she wants to play in her business game?
- Was she fully in the game?
- Did she really own it?
- Was she “playing at” the game or “playing in” the game?
- How did she practice her game?
- Did she show up like she was a 100% player or was she holding back?
My friend had never thought about herself as a player in the game of business until our conversation a couple of weeks ago. We have had conversations since our lunch in which we are crafting her game to be much more fun and winnable.
I am available to help you find the answers to these questions and to help you plan for your winnable business game. Play your business game to win and have fun playing.
Look back on 2011 with a grateful heart. Even if it felt like a tough year, there were gifts of learning, of seeing what works and doesn’t work and opportunities to try new and different things. In the words on Martha Stewart, “It’s all good!”
I would love to see your answers to these questions. In the spirit of giving and welcoming this New Year, share your thoughts and share this blog post with your friends and colleagues if you found it useful as you plan for the coming year.
Wishing you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Coach Lorraine Lane
Related posts:
Lorraine I love this post! It is so true that we often don’t think of ourselves as players in the game of our businesses.
I have to say that there are times I have missed every point in each question you asked and those are very good reasons why I didn’t reach all my goals last year.
I have written down all the questions and have them on a post-it on the frame of my computer to keep in the forefront of my mind each and every day!
Thank you so much for your insight!
Tracey Keefer
2011 was a year of learning and new strategies and ideas for me. This year is putting it all together and creating a new game…I’m excited already. Thanks for your insights.