Reflecting

(Originally published 30 June 2011) 

My huddle today on several of my teams was "Reflect on your achievements this month." Two things have really prompted me to ponder on the importance of reflection.

First, I attended a training on effective interviewing yesterday, and picked up several good ideas about tailoring my resume to get an interview, the interview itself, as well as follow-up activities. I've been wanting to make a change, but haven't set out an actual plan of steps to take and scheduled them in to make them happen.

Second, I just read a comment by an actor in TV Guide about making a 5-year plan and revising it every 6 months. I have hopes for my life, and I have goals that I have set and track daily, but a 5-year plan? I've never done that with any seriousness or follow-through, but I think I want to.

If I have a clearer picture of what I want and where I hope to be, I will have a better means of evaluating my progress. I'm not one to beat myself up over where I am, and I delight in celebrating my progress, as well as that of my Spark Friends. But I would like to be confident that some of these babysteps I'm taking are getting me closer to some of the big goals or qualitative changes I want to make.

So taking some time at the end of each month to see how far I've traveled in various areas of my life seems like a worthy habit to cultivate.

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