One thing I often tell the people who I coach is to remember to take time out for reflection, so that you can get some perspective on the how far you’ve come.
With today being the first day of 2010 and I thought it was high time that I followed my own advice and have a look back at the year that was and what I’ve achieved. I spent a couple of hours looking back over my notebooks and discovered a lot that I’d forgotten and I’m really proud of the steps forward that I took in 2009.
Here are my highlights:
Experienced the ups and downs of being in a relationship and learnt a lot about myself in the process.
Applied for the JET program – teaching English in Japan, was invited to interview but had to withdraw as the interview time was scheduled when I was overseas.
Quit my job at the start of the year and took 6 months off work. Possibly the best 6 months of my life to date.
Spent 3 weeks overseas in Taiwan and Hong Kong with my girlfriend and other friends. My first overseas trip without my family
Raised capital and issued shares in Orange Dot Pty Ltd, went on to complete a working prototype and commence user testing. Identified the necessary limitations of my involvement with this project.
In March attended the Edgeware Do Well conference and met an amazing group of people, many of whom are now my close friends.
Established a new base of friends and became much more confident with meeting new people and building a network, especially through my involvement in Orange Dot and The Hive
Kept a detailed record of my finances for the entire year
Started a food blog, EatDrinkBrisbane.com and tried my hand at being a food critic. I recruited another writer to the blog and then passed ownership and creative control over when I realised that I was no longer enjoying working on the project.
Asked myself some difficult questions and for the first time I think I was honest with myself. Am I happy with where I am and what I’m doing? Do I know where I’m going? What am I doing with my life?
Got some clarity about who I am, what I’m good at and what I’m not good at
Discovered my purpose – To work with passionate people and help them do amazing things
Became a Director of The Hive and helped facilitate 8 great events.
Volunteered with the RSPCA
Started Goal Accountability Sessions (GAS) with 5 others and have become much more focussed as a result
Recruited a mentor to help me puzzle out this thing called life
Commenced learning mandarin
Did a 30 day sleep experiment of getting up every morning at 7am, this gave me an insight into what motivates me and how I can implement change in my life successfully
Ran the Bridge to Brisbane from start to finish in 44:08, the result of about 18 weeks training at the start of which I couldn’t run 4km. This was a big boost to my self confidence in being able to set a goal and achieve it
Secured my 2nd freelance client (TCP)
Outsourced my workload from my 1st client (UQU) and trained an employee
Started a new business (PDQ) with my friend Andrew, subsequently realised our research may not have been thorough enough
Improved my relationship with my father and had our first ever ‘real’ conversation.
Had my house set on fire and flooded
Rode a Segway
Raised more than $200 for Movember, my first even involvement in a charity event
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