Strategic Partnership Design Learning Lab, April 12, 2024 Early Bird Rates Available >>

The Final Stretch of the Year: Three Questions to Ask Yourself

by | Oct 2, 2012 | General Career Advice

The Final Stretch of the Year: Three Questions to Ask YourselfNote: Please leave your answers to these questions in the comments below!

I don’t want to scare you but…brace yourself…we’re in the final stretch of 2012!

(Cue screams of horror and outrage)

It’s now officially “Q4” and you know what that means: The holidays are just around the corner. And we all know that after Halloween, the days slip by like sand through our fingers until about a week after New Years. Yep. Before you know it, we’ll be writing 2013 on our checks.

Okay. Breathe. Don’t panic. You got this, man!

To help you feel a little more in control and ensure you get the most out of the final days of 2012, here are three questions to ask yourself:

1. What have I accomplished so far?

Go on, celebrate! You deserve it. We’re ten months in and I bet you’ve made some progress on those goals you set back in January. Pull out your list and make note of your victories. I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

All too often, we focus solely on the future or the things that haven’t worked out. But take a few minutes to lovingly praise yourself for the recent past. Sure, you probably have a few things that could have gone a little better. But thankfully, you’re not perfect. (How boring you’d be if you were!). This exercise of celebrating your progress, no matter how big or small, will give you a nice boost of energy and motivation–two things that tend to dwindle this time of year.

2. If I had to choose just two priorities for the rest of the year (one personal and one professional), what would they be?

Now is the time to narrow things down. It’s easy to set monstrous goals in January as you look out at the long year ahead of you. But we’re getting down to the wire here. What really matters? What can wait? Scratch things off or postpone them. Focus on the two things that will make you look back on the year with a true sense of pride and accomplishment. Remember that priorities change naturally with time so don’t feel bad about adjusting your outlook for the year. Make these last three months count!

3. What intention do I want to set for the next three months?

Right now, you have the power to create a powerful and positive vision for the holiday season. What do you want it to be like? Stressful, financially draining and anxiety-ridden? Or peaceful, fun and productive? I’m guessing the latter sounds more appealing to most of you. Define what you want and what you can do (starting now!) to make it happen. Give yourself the tools you need to remain positive and energized for the rest of the year.

For me, this means I need to recommit to my yoga practice and focus on staying healthy even with all the travel I’m doing. My plan is to spend the month of December relaxing with family and working on my book (yes, a book!!). To do this, I need to wrap up a few big projects by the end of November and save a bit so I don’t feel anxious without money coming in.

See how easy it is? Just a few moments of thoughtful consideration can have a huge impact on how the next three months play out and how 2012 goes down in your personal history book.

Spend some time mulling over these questions and leave your answers in the comments below. Nothing helps create commitment like a little public accountability!

Photo Credit: Texas Photo Wrangler (Flickr)

Take Your Career to the Next Level

The Career Success Library is a convenient, affordable online learning center for career advancers including administrative professionals, emerging leaders, and anyone else who wants to leverage the power of ongoing professional development. 

About the Author

Chrissy Scivicque is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and certified Professional Career Manager (PCM). She is an author, in-demand presenter and international speaker known for engaging, entertaining, educating and empowering audiences of all sizes and backgrounds. Learn more here.

Keeping Reading More Articles

Join Our Free Webinars and Q&A Sessions

Discount Offers

×

Get 15% off when you purchase two or more Learning Labs! 

When you register for more than one Learning Lab in one purchase, you will automatically get 15% off. This offer cannot be shared between different people.