What’s in your rearview mirror?
It just fell off.
It started with some minor adjustments. As I was driving down a major road, my rearview mirror kept tilting funny. I would notice that the view would change - I was seeing more of the inside of my car than the road behind me.
This lasted for about 10 minutes. I went to adjust the mirror for what felt like the 50th time, but this time it fell off in my hand. Hanging by a literal electronic thread, it was no longer a helpful tool, it was a hazard.
As I drove home, I felt like I was missing important information to be able to safely navigate the busy road. I could see forward and to the sides, but I didn’t have a full view into what was behind me.
I felt like something was missing.
Do you ever feel this way?
Thankfully, my problem was easily resolved. My windshield had just been replaced after being hit by a rock, and the technician had failed to properly adhere the mirror to the glass. Someone came the next day, fixed the issue, and I was back on the road, with all the information I needed to safely drive.
But it’s not always that easy in life, is it?
Sometimes we fail to make sure we’re looking behind us to get all the information we need to safely navigate the road ahead. We get busy, we put on blinders, we try to hide. Especially this time of year, it’s easy to only see the good things that we achieved in our past, and fail to see the entire picture.
Next week, with the transition from the old year to the new year, many will be looking forward to set goals or intentions for the new year. Many also look back to the highlights of the previous year.
When you look back, what will you see?
Before you look too far ahead to this coming year, consider a few reflections on the year that’s ending.
What went well?
As you reflect on what went well, consider both the mountaintop experiences and the everyday victories. Big or small, identifying what went well for you this past year will help you celebrate your victories and identify the things you want to lean into for the coming year.
Get a big promotion? Hit a big sales number? Kid sleeping through the night? Finally mastered dancer’s pose? Celebrate all the wins, big and small.What didn’t go well?
Don’t skim over this part - there are often more learnings in the things that didn’t go according to plan than those that did. Consider not just the obvious failures or misses, but the small things that didn’t work out, too.
Missed a deadline? Got skipped over a promotion? Ate out too much? Learned a bit too late that you don’t have a future as a plumber? Consider all the things that didn’t go the way you would have liked.What do you want to do differently this coming year?
It’s not experience, but evaluated experience that truly supports our growth. What helped you achieve your successes? What did you learn from your failures and misses?
Learn running is too hard on your body? Perhaps you want to try hiking instead. Find out that the boss really likes updates in a particular format? Maybe build that into your weekly cadence.
As you think about closing out your year strong, take a moment to look back in the rearview mirror.
What do you see?
How will that inform how you approach the road ahead this coming year?
Want a thought partner as you reflect? Let’s talk.
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How will you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
December 26, 2024
About the author:
Christina Von Stroh is a leadership coach who helps her clients become wildly successful by applying iterative software development practices to achieve their dreams. Want to work with Christina to help you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
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