10 ideas for 2023
In no particular order here are my 10 ideas to help you get 2023 off to a flying start. All of them have, at their core, a focus on the things which are ‘mission critical’. I hope you forgive me for the self-serving suggestion at No 10 !
01 PITCH
Take an hour over the first few days in January to reflect on your personal elevator pitch. The narrative you deploy when someone meets you for the first time and asks you what you do. How does it sound ? Is it working for you ? Is this a case of poor articulation or the bedrock of the pitch no longer working for you. If it is the later then it is perhaps time to consider a change.
02 MUTE
Reduce the flow of digital interruption by muting all but the most essential. People don’t know you have muted them but you’ll need to periodically check-in. This simple act is one of the most effective things you can do to minimise distractions.
03 DEVOTE
Select a new cause or interest. Not right away, the odds of success on continuing with something started in January are low, but something which you think you can be passionate about. New activities are energizing.
04 REVIEW
Don’t bog yourself down with countless personal objectives but do pick a couple of goals per quarter and make a diary entry for the end of March, June, September and December to check progress.
05 DROP
Drop something you hate. Just drop it. Stop hanging on to something - it could be an activity, a pointless meeting even a relationship which is no longer working (it probably isn’t for the other party either). D R O P it.
06 BLOCK
Block out 30 minutes of time each week during the working day. Use this to review YOUR personal progress and plans.
07 STRETCH
On key activities consider some stretch goals. If you are doing something well what does the next level of success look like ? Beware the status quo.
08 RECONNECT
Make a list of 12 good people who you have, because of time constraints, allowed to drift from your orbit. Schedule a coffee / drink / lunch with one per month. If you found 01 troubling this could provide some much needed external stimulus.
09 PURGE
Review all of those chat groups you are in and, unless they are absolutely essential and provide some purpose, make your excuses and leave. And these ‘humour’ based groups are just an accident waiting to happen.
10 SUBSCRIBE
Click on this link and subscribe to “The Daily”, a very short & punchy newsletter sent at 0700 GMT Monday to Friday and a more languid “Retrospective” newsletter on a Saturday.
Good luck.
MARK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Izatt is a brand consultant living in London and founder of Mission Critical, a highly focused and curated weekly briefing for time-poor and information-hungry decision-makers.
