Review And Learn From Your Past Successes And Challenges
If youre like most small business owners you might be overlooking an important resource right at your fingertips.
Entrepreneurs especially those who are passionate about what they do often live life on a fast track after all theres a lot to do and much of it is up to you. It can be tough to take time out step back and reflect on analyze and learn from recent events.
In our MakeitFly Alumni Boards members start the meeting by sharing their biggest successes challenges and how they fared with their 30day goals during the previous month. We notice that successes and challenges are often linked to each other.
Though you likely arent looking for more projects to fill up your days much can be learned by stopping on a regular basis to study and learn from the past. I recommend setting time aside to assess your past month and ask yourself the questions below.
My Biggest Successes:
Note: Looking at this can be really encouraging!
What was the key cause of this success?
What did I do or not do that contributed to this success?
What new insights did this reveal that could be useful in the future?
How can I repeat this success perhaps in other areas?
My Biggest Challenges:
Note: Challenges could be viewed as failures. However seeing them as valuable learning tools to be used as stepping stones to future success is more fitting. In his recent book The Slight Edge author Jeff Olson quotes Thomas J. Watson Sr. founder of IBM as saying The formula for success is quite simple: double your rate of failure. Olson then adds If you go through life with the philosophy that failure is not an option then youll never have any good opportunities to learn.
What can I do or avoid doing in the future to prevent this from recurring?
What can I learn from this?
Profit from Lessons Learned:
In light of the above and with my longrange goal in mind what realistic goal will I set for the next 30 days?
Note: As entrepreneurs working for ourselves its easy to set goals and then later rationalize why we didnt achieve them. Increase your chances of success by asking someone else to hold you accountable to do what youve committed to do. Tell him or her to take this seriously and accept no excuses.
Dont miss out on this simple yet valuable resource. Plan to take time on a regular basis to reflect and learn from your past successes and challenges.
About the writer: Victoria K. Munro is cofounder along with husband Dave Block of MakeitFly LLC a company dedicated to creating success for small business owners through creatively designed programs and tools. Victoria has started and run nine different businesses. To receive FREE business success articles with tips to help you with your business sign up for their awardwinning ezine InFlight Refueling at: www.MakeitFly.com and receive a free copy of the eBook Get More Done in Less Time: 101 Quick and Easy Time Tactics Tips.
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