15 Lessons from 2021

Welcome to the 53 new members of this Newsletter who have joined us since last Thursday. If you’re not already subscribed, join the other 3500+ leaders who are receiving leadership insights, ideas, and inspiration every single week.

15 Lessons from 2021

As we wrap up the year and conclude, I like to evaluate how things went with an Annual Review. What went well? What didn’t go so well? What did I learn? From the initial stab at this review, I am sharing the 15 big lessons from 2021 and I am sure some of these are lessons you could learn from as you navigate through 2022.

1. Getting outside more is important - leave your phone at home and go for a walk in nature. Explore the countryside and open spaces. Removing yourself from the noise and distractions of your work really helps you clear your mind and will leave you feeling calmer.

2. New actions create different results - you’re not going to get different results with the same actions. Expecting different results with the same actions is insanity. Evaluate what you’re doing, if things are not working, try something new.

3. Consistency is Key - the small things add up. When you achieve a long-term goal, it’s not because you just turned up one day and it happened. It’s the daily grind and consistency for a period of time that brings you that prize.

4. Listening Pays - don’t be the advisor. Sometimes people just want to be heard and don’t want you to respond. Listen to understand, and you may realise by their delivery they’re just looking for a sounding board. You cannot hear 100% of what they’re saying if you’re already articulating your response in your head.

5. Serendipity - sometimes people, or even you, put good fortune or results down to luck. It’s not luck, it’s because you turned up. Increase your surface area of good fortune by continuing to turn up and putting yourself out there. Going the extra mile may not pay dividends on that occasion but your extra effort rarely goes unnoticed.

6. It takes a Village - the old proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” rings true. You cannot go through life on your own. You need a support network to provide you with the resources and help to get you there. Start partnering with other like-minded people who can contribute and help you to get to where you’re going a lot quicker.

7. Hang out with High Hope People - these people are motivated towards a positive future as they believe it is possible and they take action towards it. Their energy is contagious. Common traits of High Hope People include Purpose, Positivity, Charisma, a Map, Grit, and Humility.

8. 3 Goals Only - against my own advice I had 15 annual goals at the start of 2021. Dropping the lesser goals allowed me to focus on the 3 most important ones. You cannot deliver on 15 different things. You end up taking one step in 15 directions rather than 15 steps in one direction. Identify what the most important ones are and go after them.

9. Slow down to speed up - slowing down allows you to evaluate your environment and make the right decision. We’ve all heard the saying “Measure twice and cut once”. Some decisions require you to just take your time. Getting these decisions right before hitting the gas will probably save you a whole lot of pain further down the line.

10. Exercise is the Secret - I knew this was important but I have realised this even more so this year. Exercise is a keystone habit, which means it has bi-products of your original goal of exercising. I exercise to stay fit, but exercise keeps you healthy, clears your mind, helps you sleep better, and is good for your mental health.

11. Show me your friends - and I’ll show you your future. Who you spend time with is ultimately who you become. Your environment drives your state, the way you feel, the way you feel drives your behaviours, and behaviours lead to your results. Are you hanging out with the right people?

12. Journaling - a powerful way to raise self-awareness, gain clarity and provide focus. Journaling a few times a week is a powerful tool to reflect on how things are going and if you need to re-evaluate your current journey or even bring in some additional help.

13. Keep an accountability partner - don’t underestimate the power of telling someone what you’re working on and when you’ll have it done. Share it with your mentor, your partner, your colleagues, anyone who is invested in you.

14. Repetition is the mother of skill - when we’re trying something new we’re probably not going to be very good at it. Not being very competent at the beginning is usually the cost of entry. Don’t be discouraged, repetition is key here. Keep practicing and working on it. Continue to seek out opportunities to stretch yourself and work on that skill. If you practice a speech or presentation I can guarantee you the 50th attempt will be far better than the 1st. Iterate and learn as you practice.

15. Comparison is wasted energy - comparing yourself to others will never help you win. Focus on being better than you were yesterday and you won’t go far wrong.

The end of year is certainly a time to reflect and evaluate what’s important to you. What did you learn in 2021? and what do you plan to focus on in 2022? Hope some of these lessons give you some inspiration and things to think about as we head into a new year.

All the best

David

Resources Of The Week

• Book - Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson - through a series of conversations and two people’s experiences that occur up on peaks and down in valleys, a young man comes to make some startling discoveries. Eventually, he comes to understand how he can use the old man's remarkable principles and practical tools in good and bad times and becomes more calm and successful himself.

• YouTube - Who Moved my Cheese Animated Summary - In the story, the characters are faced with unexpected change in their search for the cheese (a Metaphor). One of them eventually deals with change successfully and writes what he has learned on the maze walls for you to discover. This summary will help you learn how to anticipate, adapt to and enjoy change and be ready to change quickly whenever you need to.

• YouTube - Brandon Burchard - What Great Leaders Actually Do. When I discovered this video I was instantly glued. Brendan talks through the 6 Es of Leadership and what behaviors make us great leaders.

Quote of the Week

If you’re finding this newsletter valuable, consider sharing it with colleagues, or subscribing if you haven’t already.