2020 was a weird year. The word “unprecedented” has been used to describe this year more than anyone wanted to hear it. Also the word “pivot.” Some businesses thrived during these first nine to ten months of the Covid-19 era, while others languished or expired completely. As odd as it was, it is still worth recapping 2020.
Whatever your business status as we come to the end of 2020, it is beneficial to make an end-of-year review. Here are the details of how and why you need to review 2020, and why to do it before the end of the year.
Accept that what happened happened.
However your year went, it is almost over. As Pumbaa says in the Lion King, “You’ve got to put your behind in your past.” If you’re human you probably dropped some balls and let some opportunities pass you by, You probably still haven’t developed 20/20 foresight. Recapping lets you acknowledge, forgive, and move on.
However “unprecedented” 2020 was, sh*t always happens.
“If it’s not one thing, it’s another,” said Gilda Radner as Roseanne Roseannadanna. Pandemics aside, our lives have gotten more complicated and less predictable over the years.
Bruce Feiler describes this phenomenon in his book “Life is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age.” Through extensive interviews with people of all ages he found that the “normal” linear patterns of life are dead. It is unusual, rather than the norm, to stick with one career, one employer, one life partner, and one locale through one’s life.
He uses the term “disruptors” to describe life events which might potentially derail us. The average adult has one every 12 to 18 months. “Lifequake” is the word he coined to describe a particularly intense disruption or when several disruptors happen concurrently. In his research he found that lifequakes happen, on average, three to five times in one’s life and that their repercussions last on average for five years. Experiencing disruptors and lifequakes is normal. It’s how you respond to them and navigate through them that matters.
Put on your objective hat.
In order to get the most out of your review time, you need to look back at it with an objective lens. Try your hardest to put emotion and judgement aside. Choose a time when your analytical brain is running strong.
Ask yourself “What can I learn from this?”
Recognizing that you have the ability to change habits and patterns and learn new skills is essential for growth and development. What you have gone through may have been difficult or devastating, but you can redeem something from almost any experience if you look at it as an opportunity.
Where do I want to go from here?
Recapping and goal setting are two different processes, but the first should help inform the second. As you review 2020, think about the gaps between what happened, what you wanted to happen, and whether this is something to keep on your list for next year. Keep a broad, macro-level view when reviewing. When you take time to set goals for 2021 you can dial in.
What do you need to do differently?
At times during your year-end review you might have some insights into big-picture level changes that you might need to make to move in the direction of your goals and dreams. Think about attitudes and habits which you might need to work on, and skills you need to learn. These might be soft skills like sales training or hard skills like using software.
Why spend time recapping 2020, such a crazy year?
Simon Sinek says “How you do anything is how you do everything.” Self-knowledge can be hard to acquire. Taking a look in the rear view mirror this year, of all years, might reveal strengths and weaknesses you didn’t know you had. You can capitalize on strengths and shore up weaknesses you uncover. Use that information to plan for a better and brighter 2021.
Why do this now?
You might be inclined to procrastinate on recapping 2020, to wait until it is officially over to look back. You wouldn’t want to tempt fate, after all. There’s still some time left to pull out whatever results you wanted to achieve this year. Plus, your numbers may not be in yet! However, recapping doesn’t mean that you are pulling the plug on 2020, and an end-of-year review is less about numbers and more about the big picture. It will be more effective if you do it while you are still in it. Also, you can use the information to set 2021 goals early so you can get off to a solid start when it’s time to flip the calendar page.Â
BONUS: Fill in the form below and receive the Fruitful Freelancing 2020 Year End Review, a journal with prompts to guide you through the review process.Â