At the end of 2016, I had an “Oh, God! This won’t be my story” moment. The if 2016 were a face meme was everywhere on social media. I chuckled and shared the relatable pic in a group chat. Like many, I had begun that year with anticipation, a list of goals and the mantra ‘this is going to be my year’ chirping in my ears. I know I had said it before, but this time I really felt it. Nonetheless, the end of the 2016 was here, having crept up on me. “Surprise, I’m here y’all!” She laughed. So here I was looking at this meme, saying to myself “I have to end this year right. No excuses!
Guess what happened in a few weeks?
- I upped the ante.
- I doubled my risks.
- I muted the opinion of others.
- I was 10 times more determined than I had been in August to November combined.
This momentum carried itself into the beginning of 2017. A couple months into the year, there was a point where I smiled as I closed my MacBook. I had just ended a virtual interview for an out-of-state position and thought to myself, “This will be the year I move.” I was going after everything I said I would go after.
What brought this shift? Honestly, it was the if 2016 were a face meme that continued to flash before my eyes. The fear of being in the same spot year after year sharing memes was driving me.
The fear of robbing myself of my core purpose was greater than negative voices. That was also the day that my first quarterly review was created. From that point on, I started breaking my year into quarters, reflecting on it and setting goals for the upcoming quarter. This system ensured no momentum was lost throughout the year.
Here’s how to do a quarterly review:
1. Make a big deal about it!
Trick yourself. The same energy that you have at the end of the year is the same energy you need to have during your quarterly review. Think about how you spent New Year’s Eve and get in that frame of mind. See yourself wearing the New Year’s Eve gold sequin dress. Feel the anticipation of turning the page and starting a new chapter. Hear the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne playing.
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And old lang syne?”
I spend my New Year’s Eve praising God, reflecting, and setting goals. This meant that at the quarter’s end, I was doing the same thing. The last week and even the first couple of weeks of the quarter, I do a praise break. I thank God for all of the blessings of those 90 days. Then, I reflect and set goals. This process creates the perfect atmosphere for gratitude and growth.
2. Take a break and sit still.
You can’t hear if you are yapping. You can’t reflect if you are running at full speed to get to the next mile. Stop production for 1-3 days. Put your phone on do not disturb. Don’t check your emails. Tear up your to-do list.
Every 90 days, I have a moment to myself. During some quarterly reviews, I have gotten in my car to drive to a location outside of my usual haunts. During other times, I scheduled a massage or took a yoga class. I fall silent and shut out the outside world to reflect and pray. This allows me to clearly see what my next moves are.
3. Get real with yourself.
“Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually, we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth.” – Richelle E. Goodrich
This is the time to challenge everything. What happened to the things you threw in the garbage at the beginning of the year? Have you gone back to retrieve them? Have you convinced yourself that you need the people that you let go of? Are you happy? Are your plans working? Do your plans need to change? Is this the right timing?
It was during a quarterly review that I realized I needed to abort a project and return to it at another season. Prior to the commencement of winter, I decided to save a project that would require me to spend a lot of time pecking at my computer for later. Instead, I took on a project that would require me to be more social. When the holidays came around, instead of tuning the family out to be glued to the computer screen, I was more engaged. Furthermore, I met some interesting people, and felt more grounded. When I returned to my project, I had a lot more to give to it.
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Every season has its own beauty and burden. Addressing the hard issues thus opens your eyes to both.
4. Set 1-2 major goals for the upcoming quarter.
After celebrating, pausing, and getting real with yourself, set 1-2 major goals for the quarter ahead. Think about what you want, and write a plan towards getting it. Sit down with your accountability partner, and set times for weekly check-ins.
Want to be guided through this process?
Click the image below for my free quarterly review guide. There’s no opt in or sign-ups, just the guide.
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If you need more accountability, join my new Project Glow Up, virtual or in person meet up group.
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