Ever find yourself wondering, ‘What’s next?’ As high-achieving leaders, it’s natural for those words to escape our lips after conquering significant milestones, big or small. Often, we swiftly glide over our successes and linger a bit too much in the aftermath of our setbacks.

With a bit of downtime bridging the end of 2023 and the start of 2024, the temptation to dive straight into new goals is strong. However, to ensure a truly great start, it’s crucial to pause and reflect. What went well, why did it succeed, and who contributed to the journey? Taking stock of the past can provide valuable insights for a more informed and purposeful approach to the future. Below are three questions to consider before diving into your new (or revised) goals for the new year. 

What did you accomplish?

Being grateful for the good things, doesn’t erase the bad. 

Burnout The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. 

Gratitude is essential for growth. Thinking about and celebrating what went well will also give you the stamina needed to tackle the challenges ahead. Take 10 minutes (like legit, set a timer) and write down everything you accomplished this year. Starting from a place of success will help you take the next step in this reflective process. 

Who helped in your success?

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. 

African Proverb

Return to question #1. In the success you had this year, who helped, encouraged, supported, or strengthened the work? Reflecting on who helped is just as important as acknowledging the achievement itself. And while you are reflecting, take time to send (or better yet) say thank you. 

Where do you go from here?

This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.

Taylor Swift

Now it is time to pull it all together. How can you leverage the lessons learned from both your accomplishments and the support you received to shape your goals and strategies for the upcoming year?

So, there you have it – the wins, the helpers, and the wisdom gained. As Taylor Swift says, “This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” Now, let’s put it all into action. Take those lessons, lean on the support, and dive into the adventures ahead. Where to next? Wherever it is, make it epic, and remember, change is your sidekick in this journey. Cheers to the ride!

Want to go a little further?

• Focus on This did a great podcast this past month and has more reflective prompts. Check it out here.
• James Clear (author of Automic Habits) completes his own annual review. Check out his reflection here. 
• Check out Principal in Balance for tips on building goals that are sustainable and achievable all year here.