A Bigger Game - 2008
Greetings for the new year! As the year counter clicks, we’re reminded of an opportunity to connect with, and to focus on what nourishes & energizes us in life: values, aspirations, and actions. I’ve been attending to two particular areas this season — Relationships, and a 2008 Theme.
Relationships — Our success and satisfaction in almost every area of life is inter-dependent with the satisfaction of other people with whom we live, work, play, and create. But we receive little if any training or guidance in How to work well with others, how to collaborate. Consider taking some time with your partner(s) to discuss the values and goals that bring you together, and how you can design the relationship you want.
For 2008, think about key relationships in your life, to people of course, and also to your relationship to your work or health. You can ask yourself the questions below, or even better, discuss them with someone close to you:
• What does this relationship want more of?
• What’s working? What should be celebrated?
• What would help create a sense of fun and ease in this relationship?
• What resources (people, time, money, support, info, commitment) do we need to grow?
• What does it mean to conduct this relationship in alignment with our values?
• What have we learned from this last initiative or year of working together?
• How do we want to be together when someone drops the ball?
• What are we tolerating in this relationship?
• What does being supported look like to you & your partner?
Theme for 2008 — Thinking about your goals for 2008, consider creating a theme or tag line or headline or song for yourself that captures the excitement of where you’d like to travel this year. Your theme word, phrase, song, image, dance, etc. should be emotional and dynamic, more of an inspirational reminder than a summary.
My personal theme for this year is A Bigger Game — for me this means preferring to be a smaller fish in a bigger pond, with room to grow. It also means the possibility of rejection and failure. Whatever happens, I’m interested in the feedback that comes with shooting for the moon.
Below are a few questions for completing the old & creating the new. And perhaps along the way you’ll find a theme song for 2008 …
1. Reflection for ‘07 — Think about & write some key issues/events from the past year: A) what were your Successes & Breakthroughs? B) your Failures & Breakdowns? C) what are some Lessons Learned from all of those experiences?
2. Completion for ‘07 — From your list of Breakthroughs & Breakdowns, on which issues do you feel “complete”? Completion can mean “finished”, and can also be about making things whole. When we feel incomplete in an area, it drains our energy. Think about losses you haven’t let go of yet. Or perhaps a win that hasn’t been fully leveraged or celebrated. Or just something where you need to let it be what it is & stop trying to change it. About what would you like to feel more complete in the coming year?
3. Visioning for ‘08 — Sit back, close your eyes, and dream about a year from now — writing your Reflections of Wins & Breakthroughs for 2008. What’s on your list? Write it in the present tense, e.g. I started a new business. Or, I improved my relationship with my kid. How or what would you like to look & feel different a year from now? Be idealistic, be bold. And in the end, remember that a plan is only the place to begin; life is full of surprises.
4. Actions for ‘08 — “Just Do It” is a popular slogan, but not particularly helpful advice. Most change initiatives require some planning, and lots of support. Thinking about your Visioning goals, answer 2 questions: What would be a first step towards making that happen? What kind of support (people, materials, information, etc.) do I need to get started? Starting a big project at the beginning offers small wins, which build momentum & confidence. And thinking about support needs helps to develop the plan, and can connect you to your community instead of thinking that its all up to you & you alone.
I plan to be working this year: helping partners design alliances, building trust and productivity with teams, and designing spaces for creative process. Give a call or email if I can help in any way. Wishing for all your dreams to come true…