Maybe you discovered that a particular approach doesn’t work. Maybe you learned to ask more questions before starting a project, communicate earlier when something is going wrong or allow yourself more time than you think you’ll need. Lessons learned from lived experience may not always feel like accomplishments, but you’ll remember them longer than any takeaway from a class or seminar. Instead of looking solely at what you achieved this year, consider what you learned. What do you know now that you didn’t know in January? That wisdom represents growth, even if it doesn’t fit neatly into a goal-setting spreadsheet. WHAT SHOULD YOU KEEP DOING? Once you’ve identified some of the things that went right this year, look for patterns. Maybe the projects that went particularly well had something in common. Maybe your best work happened when you had fewer competing priorities. Perhaps a particular habit — better planning, clearer communication or simply making time to focus — consistently made things easier. Those observations can be more useful than a generic list of resolutions. Before you ask, “What should I start doing next year?” ask yourself, “What is already working that I want to continue?” Sometimes moving forward means doing more of what’s already working. WHAT SURPRISED YOU? Finally, think about the things that happened this year that you didn’t expect. Maybe an unexpected opportunity turned into one of your most rewarding projects. Maybe a challenge led to an improvement you wouldn’t have made otherwise, or a chance encounter grew into a valuable professional connection. Not everything of consequence can be planned in advance. Looking back at the unexpected parts of the past year can remind us to allow for flexibility in the next one. Goals and plans are useful, but so is the ability to recognize — and seize — a fleeting opportunity. TAKE THE GOOD WITH YOU Looking back doesn’t mean pretending everything went perfectly. Every year comes with its share of frustrations and missed opportunities, but focusing on those at the expense of your accomplishments is an exercise in pessimism. Before you close the book on this year, take a few minutes to recognize what worked. Think about what became easier, which problems you solved, who helped you along the way, what you learned and which habits or practices are worth carrying forward. Then, when you’re ready to start thinking about what comes next, you’ll have more than a list of things to fix. You’ll have a better understanding of what you already do well — and a foundation you can build on in the year ahead. Glen LaBorde, CPA, CGMA Partner, Audit + Assurance htbcpa.com Driving Dealership Performance Forward. Providing Dealers Across Louisiana with: Audit + Assurance Consulting Outsourced Accounting Tax Planning + Preparation Wealth Management PROUD MEMBERS 15
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