It’s nearly 2020, and a new decade is looming. Consider how different our society is today and how much closer everyone in the world is than even just ten years ago. We’ve evolved into a culture where our heads are tilted downward to stare at a computer in our hands most of the day.  Hundreds of millions of new pictures and videos circulate each day about people’s personal lives. Almost overnight, it became okay to hail a ride with a stranger or stay in other people’s houses on vacation.

How Has Automation Impacted You?

Has the wave of technology in the past ten years improved your life? Have you found more time in your day or less time with all of the new automation? Has your income increased? Is your stress level lower or higher? Did you take that dream vacation? Have you given your time and money back to the community where you live?

Our world is evolving so fast it seems that we have less and less time to consume all of the information and change coming at us. Statistics show that environmental anxiety and depression are rising at a dramatic pace. Does it have to be this way? Can we stem the tide of negativity that appears to envelop our inability to adapt to all of the change?

The answer to each of these questions is unequivocally YES.

Accomplishments in Review

As we close out 2019, the December Salesmuser posts will focus on looking ahead to 2020 and the decade of the ’20s. But before doing so, it seems like a good time to reflect on the past year and what’s transpired since 2010. 

I hope 2019 was filled with joy, success, and wonderful memories. Did you create your own luck through relentless action? Did you graduate from school? How many things did you mark off your bucket list? Did you have a positive impact on someone’s life? Did you bring a new life into this beautiful world? Did you find inner peace? Did you overcome a fear that was holding you back from trying something new? Did you find meaning in your life?

Step One

As a seasoned veteran of doing year-end reviews, I know it’s easy to forget the positives and drift toward the negatives. It’s difficult to simply recall all that’s happened over a year. Although the years go by in the blink of an eye, attempting to sift through the year by memory alone is almost impossible. With careful reflection, you’ll find many positives. Here are some tips for your own year-end review:

Block time on your calendar to do this activity. Preferably an hour. Turn off Wi-Fi and data to your phone and computer. 

Review your calendar first. You’ll stumble on many reminders of actions you took during the year. 

Next, review your notes. I carry my notepad with me everywhere. It’s a great source for reminding me of my past accomplishments. 

Finally, if you have a diary, this is obviously a super source for recalling your accomplishments. Consider writing out all of your accomplishments, partially complete projects and projects that didn’t get started. This will be your guide for the next step in the process.

Step 2

Gather your to-do lists, bucket lists, and all the other lists where you track your goals and tasks. Take time to look through each list and consider all that you’ve checked off and all the opportunities that lie ahead of you. Does it excite you to see a list that seems to only grow longer, or does it cause you to gulp for a deep breath? Gulping for a deep breath used to be me. There’s no need to update or change anything yet.

Step 3

Now, this next step is really important. Find a quiet and comfortable location where you won’t be interrupted for a while. Imagine that you’re looking down on the completion of your most audacious goal. Feel the sense of accomplishment and pride. How does it make you feel? Now, repeat the process for two more of your wildest goals.

If the goals you saw accomplished don’t stir the passion within you, then maybe it’s not a goal worth pursuing. Or maybe, as I’ve found, business, personal, and family goals were more about me and checking boxes than helping others.

During my most successful years, there was something missing for me. No career achievement could bring a lasting sense of accomplishment. My wife was dismayed when I attempted to explain the discontent with my career. Rightly so, she saw our beautiful children, a house we could only dream about when we were young, and living in a community rich with opportunity. There I was, it seemed to my wife, complaining about all that we’d achieved in our lives. 

Yes, if you’re in sales, there will always be a quota. As I discovered, meeting or exceeding quota was critical in a number of ways. In some instances, it allowed me to preserve my job for another year. I benefited from the money that came from hitting quota. The recognition of achieving quota amongst my peers was particularly fulfilling. 

All of these things were like an ephemeral stream. Wonderful to behold yet gone the next day.

Finding Meaning in Work

In the past several years, clarity about why we’re here on earth and what makes us happy came into full view for me. Throughout my life, it was always right there in front of me — in fact, I often experienced its profound impact on me, yet I didn’t understand its meaning. There is no event, tipping point, or epiphany that occurred to finally make me see its value. Slowly, I discovered that serving and helping others is what delivers real happiness. 

If all of our goals are aligned to enable us to better serve others, there is real meaning to everything we do. Here’s an example from my work life: My mission is to help our clients be successful, not to sell them more services. My mission with this blog is to help readers learn from my mistakes and from the success of others,  and to sometimes put a smile on their face with a funny story.

Repeat Step 3

Imagine if you realign all of your career, family, and personal goals toward helping others. Now, repeat step three. Consider goals that will impact others and determine if the energy coursing through your body is different from the first time you did this exercise. The focus will be off of you and onto those in need. Those in need can be your clients, your spouse, your family, and the charities you serve.

My wish for all of you is to find true meaning in your life. I feel certain you’ll discover it through a commitment to serving those in need,  like I did. In the next post, we’ll take the next step to organize our dreams and goals. Below is the simplest example of a way you can start helping others today.

Consider putting a smile on your face during all conversations. Your positive energy will be felt whether it’s a face-to-face meeting or a phone call. There are plenty of negatives in our lives, but so what? Everyone else is dealing with their share of issues, too. That simple smile goes a long way toward relieving your own stress and relaxing the person(s) you’re talking to. You’ll find that you never lack for energy because you’re serving others.