As I reflected on 2012 over the past week, I honed in on some key learnings.
- Sensemaking is required for visioning. The more accurate my understanding of who I am, where I am, and what surrounds me, the more poised I will be to envision ideal futures, set goals, and respond to the changes life constantly throws my way.
- I often underestimate what it takes to accomplish something. When allocating time to a project or task, I need to be realistic about three things: 1. Problems or opportunities are almost always more systemic and therefore more sophisticated than they first appear, 2. Distractions are the death of solutions, and 3. I need designated time deep within a problem to the point where my subconscious starts working on it on non-designated times—in the shower, on my commute, while sleeping. Epiphanies almost always come during these down times.
- God wants me to live into who he created me to be and vigilantly renounce titles, accolades, money, possessions, and anything else that should only be tools for the restoration of his kingdom.
- Leadership is often lonely and hard. It’s always easier critiquing or second guessing from the follower position. When I follow, I will offer more grace.
What do you think? What have you learned in 2012?