Are You Prepared for What’s Next?

Here are some suggestions to help you prepare for a productive fourth quarter and a great 2021.

By Robert Arzt, CLU, ChFC, LLIF

“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” (Anonymous)

2020 has been a challenging year for most of us. In spite of these challenges, most of us still have a great deal of hope for the future. We expect that better times are ahead of us and plan on brighter days.

My question to you is: What will the balance of this year and all of next year be for you? Will you be prepared? To be clear, I am talking about being prepared to handle the unexpected, to get back on your feet, to leverage your success and be prepared to achieve new goals.

Please take a few minutes to reflect upon this question:

If you knew last June that the COVID19 virus would cause the worldwide problems that it did, what would you do differently?

Of course, none of us has a crystal ball to predict the future; however, Dennis Waitley provides us with some excellent advice: “Don’t dwell on what went wrong; instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.”

If there is one thing that I have learned about achieving success from my coaching practice, it is that all success is mental. Success starts as a mental process, and everything that you think will flow from there. Your mental framework will impact the way you react to good and bad situations, how resilient you will be in the current marketplace and what you can actually achieve.

Check your progress often and make necessary course corrections.

If this year fell short of your expectations, I would like to give you a dose of reality. You are smart enough to accomplish whatever you want. You are creative enough to find new solutions to problems that you have not been able to solve yet. And you are talented enough to create and implement a new business plan that will work for you.

If this year is meeting or exceeding your expectations, congratulations! How can you leverage that success in the future?

A Guide For Setting Goals

Either way, use the acronym REFLECT to guide you through the process of setting goals for next year:

R- Reflect on and review the past year. Did you take responsibility for your successes and failures? Did you reward those around you who achieved personal goals and who helped you to achieve yours? Were you resilient in the face of challenges and stress? Did you take the appropriate actions to be resilient?

E- Both E’s in REFLECT stand for envisioning a bright future and striving for excellence in yourself and others. Eliminate distractions and negativity and exercise your mind and your body.

F- Have fun and be fair, but above all, remain focused on your goals and the action steps that are required to achieve them.

L- Look for lessons learned from both your successes and disappointments and incorporate what you have learned into your daily activities. What things should you start doing, stop doing, or continue doing to achieve your goals?

C- Are you absolutely committed to your success or are you comfortable in staying in your comfort zone? Are you building a culture of caring, commitment, and cause and effect?

T- What are you tolerating in your personal and professional life that you can no longer tolerate if you are to achieve the goals you have set for yourself? Tolerations can be big or small, but no matter their size, they drain your energy and detract from your focus. “T” also stands for team . You can’t do it alone. Surround yourself with a supportive team to help ensure and accelerate your success and theirs.

Checklist For Success

Here is a short checklist to ensure a productive fourth quarter and a head start to a great 2021:

1. Have the mental attitude that you are already successful.

2. Decide and commit to doing things differently.

3. Look for the positive in every interaction with everyone and in every situation.

4. Always be action oriented.

5. Be determined.

6. Check your progress often.

7. Make necessary course corrections.

8. Expect your goals to be achieved. Good luck on your journey to success.

Robert A. Arzt, CLU, ChFC, LLIF, is CEO of Polaris One and InsuranceCoachu.com. He coaches professionals who want to achieve more. Contact him at 510-671-6226, bob@polarisone.com or through his website at www.polarisone.com. For a complimentary coaching session, mention this Advisor Today article.