My wife is one of the most driven people I know. She is constantly listening, leaning into discomfort, and learning as much as she can. The average person listens to around 1,000 minutes of podcasts a year and according to her Spotify wrapped, she listened to over 10,000.
Almost more than pursuing her goals, she likes to talk through them with me. During one of these recent conversations she was describing her 2025 goals of running an international Hyrox race, traveling with our newborn, and taking a cooking class with friends. At one point I (probably too abruptly) interrupted her and asked, "How do you know this is what you need to be focusing on next year? Have you ever stopped to reflect back on the year and then set goals based on that?"
This wasn't the first time I'd suggested this, but for some reason, this time she stopped and actually considered it. Of course Joenelle had thought about this past year, but thinking about something is different than reflecting on it. Life is too beautiful, too meaningful, and moves too fast for us to not stop and truly reflect back on what has happened. We are giving ourselves too much credit if we believe we will just remember the most meaningful moments and set resolutions based on that.
For the past eight years I've conducted a personal annual review for my life and used it to set goals for the upcoming year. I've written extensively about why annual reviews are important and how I, as well as renowned leadership experts, conduct their reviews. If you would like a guide on the why or the how, you can read any of my articles on goal setting here.
As much as I would love for Joenelle to join me in conducting an annual review, she is busy and her mind moves a million miles an hour. The chances of her committing several hours or even one hour to an annual review is slim. So, instead of reinventing the wheel and writing the same article again, I thought about what type of review Joenelle might actually do and it just might the type of review you'll commit to as well.
As I said, if you want a longer format for self-reflection, check out the link above for a number of options. If you want a short and sweet version, try answering these seven questions.
What did I change my mind on this year?
Realizing we were wrong about something can often be one of the clearest indicators of personal growth. Try identifying what you were wrong about and what caused that change of heart. Once you have that pinpointed, aim to include more of that in the coming year.
What were my greatest hits?
What were the moments you want to remember when you're 85? What are the stories you'll tell your grandchildren?
What stole my time this year?
As QuinnXCII says in his song Pasadena, "We can't make a little more time The way we can make money..." so eliminate what is stealing your time in 2025 and give it back to the things that matter.
What did I not do because I was afraid?
Fear can be a big barrier for people. Oftentimes the answer isn't something extreme like skydiving, but something that affects us in a small, but consistent way. Maybe you want to say "I love you" but your family doesn't really do that or you want to ask a new friend to lunch even though you don't really know what you're going to talk about. Don't let fear hold you back next year.
What am I most proud of?
We should celebrate successes in our lives, both big and small. Do more of what you're proud of in the coming year.
What gave you energy and what stole your energy?
When we can pinpoint what makes us feel alive versus what steals the vitality from us, we can begin setting goals that set us up for a lifetime of joy and gratification. Without the answer to this question, how can we sure the pursuit of a goal we have set won't leave us feeling void of energy and life?
Who were my boat anchors this year?
Sahil Bloom tells us a boat anchor is someone that is literally dragging you down and holding you back, like an anchor. This question was particularly convicting for me as I spent a good portion of this past year investing in people that were anchors for me. Identify your anchors and cut ties as fast as possible.
The New Year is nigh and we owe it to ourselves to look back before moving forward. Whether you spend four hours reflecting on your year or four minutes answering each of these questions, it will be an investment that will pay dividends in the coming year.
Fact
As of July, 2024, there were 6 million Podcast titles on Spotify.
Action
Download this fillable .pdf and answer the 7 questions discussed in this Two For You.
Question
What might you miss out on if you don't conduct an annual review? What might you gain by conducting an annual review?
Quote
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” - Socrates, Apology (399 BC)
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