Should you be doing a personal quarterly review for your life and business? The secret to staying on top of your personal and professional life is to schedule regular times for review and reflection. This is a way for you to “check in,” and make sure you are on course moving towards your personal and professional vision. It is a must do for everyone of you.
When was the last time you took time out for a detailed review of your personal goals and plans? Checking on your progress, reviewing whether you’re making the best use of your time, seeing whether your effort is actually paying off. There’s something quite special that happens when we reflect on what we’ve done, our achievements, even are failures. Alas most of you get lost in just being busy, paying very little attention to whether you are spending your time wisely, working on those activities which will achieve the most. Often you work for the sake of working.
Can you believe it’s April already? The first three months of the year gone already. The first quarter done and gone. How has it been for you? This is a great time to assess your life and business, and that is exactly what you’ll do by conducting a personal quarterly review. Don’t let any more time pass you by without reflecting on progress in this the first quarter of the year.
“It takes courage…to endure the sharp pains of self discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives.”
Marianne Williamson
Remember back in January when you were setting those big goals for your year? Have you made as much progress as you’d expected or hoped? Has it been another year where those New Year Resolutions have already bitten the dust?
How clear are you about your performance and progress? Have you carried out a Personal Quarterly Review? Taking stock of your life as it is, celebrating accomplishments, examining challenges, making new goals, and continuing on with the ones you’ve mastered. Knowing what you’ve done well and which areas you need to make improvements in.
When it comes to achieving your goals, the biggest challenge is often not a lack of resources or time, but the ability to maintain your focus on it. In the past you know that too often you’ve allowed your goals to fade from memory. Instead of making progress, after several months have passed you’ll realize that you’re no closer than when you started. It is imperative that you have an intentional, regular personal review process for your goals which will keep them in front of you on a regular basis. That’s why doing a personal quarterly review is so important to you.
“Mistakes should be examined, learned from, and discarded; not dwelled upon and stored.”
Tim Fargo
Reviewing your goals and reflecting on performance sharpens your focus and helps you to adjust your daily activities so you stay on track instead of allowing yourself to be knocked off course.
This is even more of a priority if you’re an entrepreneur or business owner. it is essential you are regularly reviewing the business performance. Well it is equally important to do this for your personal life too. I strongly suggest you take 90 minutes out at the end of every quarter to do a personal quarterly review.
The four quarters of our year are:
1. January to March
2. April to June
3. July to September
4. October to December
Make sure you’ve set yourself up for success by blocking out a few hours to complete a personal quarterly review. Do this at the end of each quarter preferably within 7 days of the next period having started.
Make this a special event by heading to your favourite coffee shop or park and really take time to reflect on what worked, what didn’t and how you’re going to adjust your behaviour moving forward. Take a pad and pen to do it the old-fashioned way. Brainstorm and write what comes to mind.
“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”
Ken Blanchard
The Review and reflection process is the best way to satisfy yourself of your achievements, progress and remaining activities. It also allows you to factor in new developments and respond to changing circumstances in your environment. It helps you spot mistakes and areas you’re letting yourself down. Its giving you an insight into the things you need to change.
Let me now give you some sample questions to ask yourself.
YOUR PERSONAL QUARTERLY REVIEW
Date __________________ Quarter: _______________
Start by looking at the 8 key areas of your life, and for each score yourself on a level of between 0, being dire, to 10, perfect. Look at each area carefully, reflect on it for a while, then score yourself accurately.
- Financial
- Social Life
- Professional Life
- Possessions
- Health & Fitness
- Passion & Purpose
- Relationships
- Mind & Personal Growth
Your ultimate target is to score 10’s across the board, but equally important is getting life in balance where each area is going ‘ok.’ So, you will know life if progressing well when you see yourself scoring 7’s and 8’s in each area.
REVIEW OF THE QUARTER JUST GONE
Do an objective review of what you have achieved in the quarter that has just passed and write an overview of your current situation – especially focusing on what is still missing and needs to be done.
What goals have you been working on in this quarter?
What went well in this quarter?
What didn’t go well in this quarter?
If I could do this quarter over again, what would I do better?
What did you find most challenging?
What were the biggest lessons you’ve learned?
What are your favourite memories?
Did you accomplish what you wanted to in this quarter?
What do you need to carry over or continue working on in the next quarter?
PLAN FOR THE NEXT QUARTER
Figure out what projects will you complete during the next quarter and get super clear on the time, energy and effort they’ll take to complete.
What are your goals for the upcoming quarter?
Where do you want to have achieved when the quarter is over?
What are your key priority activities that you need to focus on?
How do you need to best spend your time, ensuring you focus on your goals while maintaining a balance in your life?
Don’t make doing a review a one off. Right now schedule when you will be doing your 2nd personal quarterly review, as well as the 3rd and 4th, in addition you really should begin to do a weekly review.
Now get your review done for this quarter just gone!
“After living in the dark for so long, a glimpse of the light can make you giddy.”
The Good Girl (2002)
