Snow in the Tetons started a little light this year in December and early January but the storms in the past few weeks have totaled 189” so far this season according to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Happy New Year! As we usher in 2024, we find ourselves filled with new hopes and dreams. January, a time of reflection and renewal, offers us a fresh start to redefine our paths and set new, meaningful goals. However, the reality of New Year's resolutions is often marked by a low success rate. This statistic is a reminder of the challenges many face in goal-setting and achievement, both personally and professionally.
This week, a thought-provoking quote from Viktor E. Frankl, shared by my friend and colleague Garry Ridge in his daily “Learning Moment” email, struck a chord with me: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Inspired, I revisited Frankl's seminal work, “Man’s Search for Meaning”. Frankl's insights also influenced Stephen R. Covey's groundbreaking book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," in 1989.
I was fortunate to discover Covey’s 7 Habits early in my career. These habits, starting with "Be Proactive" and taking responsibility for one's life, profoundly impacted my life's journey – from my career beginnings in '89, my marriage in '90, and eventually the founding of my first company in 97. Covey’s second habit, "Begin with the end in mind," and the third, "Put First Things First," provided a solid foundation for defining my mission, setting and achieving meaningful goals.
Embracing these habits led to remarkable outcomes in my life and career. This success motivated me to establish a company culture centered around the 7 Habits, which in turn contributed to 15 years of sustained double-digit growth.
During a period of plateau around 2012, the genesis of Inspire Software occurred. Our aim was to apply the 7 Habits in a practical, modern way using software to organize, plan and execute. We developed modules to define missions, roles, and goals, integrating continuous performance management to facilitate frequent, impactful conversations using the leadership skills of Stephen Covey and Ken Blanchard with Situational Leadership II.
Furthermore, we incorporated Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) for strategic and developmental goals. The integration of these methodologies into our unique holistic solution, has been transformative, enabling thousands of individuals, teams and companies to achieve their objectives, maximize performance, and build positive company cultures.
As we step into 2024, I encourage Inspire Software users to revisit and update their mission, values, and roles before defining your goals and OKRs. Set your goals for the new year that tie back to your mission, values and roles and prioritize your most important tasks each week before the week begins. Embrace self-leadership by seeking out coaching through quality 1-on-1 conversations, and success will surely follow.
For those not using Inspire, remember that goal setting and achievement can start simply – with a paper planner or any system that works for you. However, if you're looking to make a significant impact this year, consider going electronic with Inspire Software. Visit inspiresoftware.com to set up a demo and start your journey to effective goal setting and achievement.
Here's to a year of growth, achievement, and meaningful success. Let's make 2024 a year to remember! 🌟
Inspire Software is a comprehensive workflow platform that teaches and assists organizations in setting and monitoring smarter goals and better practices. It integrates science-backed principles to enhance individual and team efficiency and leadership development.
Schedule a demo now to implement AI into your organization.
Learn more about the Inspire approach at inspiresoftware.com.
