For quite a few years, I’ve done a January 1st post about my goals for the year and sometimes threw in a review of the year prior. I think I do it to hold myself accountable…or, if nothing else, feel like I’ve spoken what I’ve set out to do out into the world in hopes that someone will slap me upside the head if I don’t get cracking on things!
So here it is, January 1st again. I mean, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? it feels like it should be June or maybe July at the most!
Here’s my review of 2016 in a sentence: She had big plans but ended up taking a nap.’
She (meaning me!), had plans (you can read them here) to get a tone of stuff done and take the world by storm, buuuuuuuuuuuttttttttt, what really ended up happening is that I needed to take some time and regroup.
Here’s why: For 10 years I ran a trained people and had a big training team I managed. I traveled. A lot. Like virtually every week some years. Along the way many people said, “You need to write books!” So I did. Four of them in about 3 years time. Side note: The 5th books is actually written, but it’s been in the hopper for about year with no progress…I’m not even sure it’ll ever be released now that I think of it a year later.
What I didn’t realize is that writing, editing, printing, publishing, fulfilling and shipping books was like starting a new business. I thought it was an extension of what I was already doing! Um…SUPER NAIVE thinking on my part!
We had unbelievable response to the books (I am so so thankful for everyone buying them and using them!), but I needed to figure out how to get the word out to people who didn’t know me. That proved to be much tougher. And I basically spun my wheels trying to figure that out for the first part of 2016. During that time I did one thing: took naps.
Not in a depressed, push-the-world-out-and-close-the-blinds way, but in a super tired for a lot of years way. I know you can relate.
So, I napped and I thought about books. And I did very little traveling for work (like one trip a month). And something happened.
I missed people. I missed seeing people work with kids. I missed all of the flood of ideas about how to help teachers I get when i am actually with teachers. I missed writing. I missed prepping demo lessons. I missed the whole thing!
So, here I am after using 2016 as a recovery and discovery year and now I’m ready to roll. As it turns out, I needed some naps, but napping as a serious hobby didn’t work for me long-term! (And yes, I know I was very lucky to be able to take naps…I realize this is a luxury…but it is not all it’s cracked up to be, I can assure you!).
With that said, here’s a smattering of the goals I will be CHARGING TOWARD in 2017! I am ready, I am rested and I am very very excited to be discovering and sharing new content with YOU to help make teaching and coaching simpler for you! (Note: I write the goals in super specific wording as if I have already accomplished them!)
- I have attended Sunday services at my church weekly whenever I am in town
- I have had my first meeting of my investment/dinner group
- I have successfully baked a layered cake, a pie, croissants, cinnamon rolls, French bread, tortillas, pretzels, fry bread, a soufflé and crepes sucre.
- I have lost 50 pounds by December 310, 2017
- I keep regular work hours each week
Nothing super fancy, but things that, when accomplished, would have a super big impact on the quality of my year!
Question for you: Do you set goals? I’d love to hear yours…or why you don’t set them!
Loved the honesty in this post. There was a lot about 2016 that I just had to shake my head at and wonder what exactly was God’s plan in everything that happened. Mark and I continue to travel 5 1/2 hours one way to see each other due to job situations. While this might put a strain on most marriages, it has made us understand how much we appreciate each other when we are together. Wish there were airports that would make it at little easier, but that’s not in the cards right now.
I have taken over a middle high school (grades 6-12) that literally felt like I had gone back in time 20 years in education with what they were doing with students. Goals have been difficult to write due to the extensive work that needs to be done. Too much too soon would lead to revolt and push back. So we developed our non-negotiables, which keep us focused as we inch toward our long-terms goals and continue to raise the bar.
I have pulled your books out and used them as resources, shared with my colleagues, and used in professional development numerous times. I know that when you give and give, there comes a time when you have to fill back up and take care of yourself. Your naps were justified!! You needed them.
I continue to look for comprehensive educational research that will help us in the public school setting to reach all students. We are constricted and forced to try and get all students to fix a box of prescribed curriculum, rules and tests. I am currently devouring anything written by John Hattie and plan to see him in person in Nashville in 2017.
Happy New Year! May 2017 be the best year yet!
Hi Kim!
Thank you! Wow – you always are a busy, driven woman…which is one of the things I love about you! Would you ever be willing to share those non-negotiables? i’m always looking for examples of them to share with folks…or just share with me because I’m curious!
Starting small is always the best. I have really re-thought my ideas on school reform – – I will write with that at some point. I think as long as we are doing a few right things rather than an overhaul (I know you are sensitive to this), we’ll end up where we need to be. The big, grand overhauls just don’t go well…and they don’t stick, in my experience!
John Hattie is such a good one!
Happy new year to you!!!!!!!!!! Miss seeing and working with you!
J