666: 5 Questions That Will Redesign Your Life & Career Before 2026 Begins

Scott Anthony Barlow 00:00: Every year, as we wind down and prepare for the next, I take time to reflect using a set of questions that I've refined over the years. Now, these questions they're not just about setting goals; they're about figuring out what's really working in my life and in my career. What's been amazing this year? What do I want to keep, and what definitely needs to change? I think these are questions that you can use too.

Sometimes I do use these for goal setting. Other times, they're purely for reflection. Either way, they consistently yield high results for me. They've evolved over the years, but I still use them simply because they work. Don't worry. I'll share five of those powerful questions with you in just a minute.

But first, this is Happen To Your Career. The podcast that brings you real people, real transformations, and the courage to do work that truly fits. Now, if you haven't already subscribed, click follow right now so you don't miss any of the new episodes.

Before we get too far along, I wanna first point out something that happens every single year behind the scenes. We're getting close to the end of this year. Okay, that part's obvious. And every single year, we notice one of two things happens.

We have one group of people, a large number of people, that start reaching out to us right away, you know, wanting to plan their career changes before the new year. These folks schedule conversations with our team. They get to enjoy the holidays knowing everything is already in place, set up so that they can do the work come January.

Okay. Then there's group two. This is actually the majority of people. The majority of people in the world, not just the people we work with, wait until January 1st to even begin thinking about their career change.

That's very human. It's also totally okay, but here's the thing. Come January 1st, we experience a massive influx of people. Everybody who wants to have a new year, new career, you know, make the changes that they want, so it is far and away our busiest time.

This means our availability to talk and be able to help gets very limited. And the same is true right now as we approach the end of the year. So if you're thinking about making a career change or a career transition, or figuring out what intentional work looks like for you that is well paid and fulfilling, then here's what I would encourage you to do.

Schedule a conversation with us now. Let's figure out the very best way to help. My team's ready to support you. Just drop me an email, Scott@happentoyourcareer.com, with 'Conversation' in the subject line. I'll connect you with my team, the right member, and we'll set you up with a plan to head into the new year confident and prepared.

If you decide to wait until January to talk to us, just know that we might be a bit backlogged. We'll still be excited to chat. However, if you want to get ahead of the rush and move into the new year proactively, send that email, 'Conversation' at Scott@happentoyourcareer.com today.

Okay, now, onto the list of questions. Here are the five questions to reflect on your new year.

Question number one. What worked this year that I want more of next year? Or that I want to double down on next year? I want you to think about the things that were amazing; what worked, what do you want more of, what do you want to carry forward into the next year?

Now, this is where focusing your time and energy can really pay off. Reflect holistically, relationships, work projects, financial goals, even your personal philosophy.

If you're struggling with answers on this one, here's a tip that you use. Look back at your calendar. Scroll through photos. These can jog your memory and help you capture those key moments. This is something that we do every single year to be able to understand and remind us of what happened during that year, and what we did well.

Question number two. What do I want less of this next year? This is, of course, the flip side to question one. What didn't work? What do you want to do away with or consciously change?

Now, if we go on to question number three, what do I want to prevent in the upcoming year? This one is about being proactive. Just like we mentioned a short bit ago. What didn't you enjoy this past year? What are you worried about that you can take concrete steps to prevent? This question helps shift worries into actionable plans.

Okay. Question four. What was missing this past year for you that you want to have more of in the new year, or that you want to be different? Reflect on what's been absent. What do you want to add to your life or to your work?

Now, question number five. It's my favorite. What do I want to accomplish between now and the end of this year? I love getting a head start, and so why wait till the new year to get started? Once you know what you want to work on this next year, ask yourself, "What are the simple things I can do right now to get ahead?"

For example, we were talking about career change a moment ago. If that's on your list, certainly you can, of course, you know, reach out and schedule a conversation as a next step with us. But whatever it is, whether this is about your career, whether it is about a set of relationships that are important to you, what can you do to get ahead on with just one small step today?

Okay, there you have it. Those are the five questions I'm using this year and actually have already used this year. If you need anything or think we can support you, just click the link in the description to schedule a conversation with our team, or email me, Scott@happentoyourcareer.com, with 'Conversation' in the subject line. In any case, we'd love to help you make next year your best year yet. Thanks for listening. Talk to you later. Adios.