Hello friends,
Happy New Year! 🎉
2024, here we GO!
Excited? Me too. But TBH I can also quickly start feeling overwhelmed with everything I want to accomplish.
It’s only the first week of January and I’m like “Could someone please slow down the clock?” 😳
⏩ Fast forward to the end of the year and I still have a long list of dusty goals that didn’t make it to the finish line. 🤦🏼♀️
If this sounds vaguely familiar you are not alone.
It’s a classic case of falling into some very common planning pitfalls. The good news is that once you know what these pitfalls are, they are easy to avoid.
How can plan so you don’t fall into planning traps in 2024? That’s our Quest for this week. 🔎
🚫 Avoiding the “Planning Fallacy” trap
✍️ My NEW approach to planning this year
🧰 Planning tools that have made a difference for me
Oh, and don’t miss this:
📣NEW SECTION 👉 “Facilitator Finds” (scroll down, it’s worth it)👇
Let’s dive in!
🚫Avoiding the “Planning Fallacy” Trap
Ever set BIG goals, and then end the year wondering, “What happened?”
It’s called the “Planning Fallacy.”
It’s a phenomenon discovered by psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. It’s about being TOO optimistic, thinking tasks will take less time and cost less than they actually do.
We all fall for it.
Even AI models fall into the trap 😅
We operate from an optimism bias.
It’s good to be enthusiastic about new projects. But problems arise when that enthusiasm comes at the expense of what it actually takes to make them happen.
How do you avoid the Planning Fallacy trap?
1/ Take an “Inside and Outside” View: Look at your specific project and past similar tasks. Trust DATA, not just gut feelings.
2/ “Implementation Intentions”: Map out a detailed plan. It’s not just about setting goals; it’s about HOW you’ll reach them.
https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/planning-fallacy
✍️ My NEW approach to planning this year
2023 didn’t go exactly as I planned.
Last January I sat down and made an ambitious list of things I wanted to accomplish. Sky was the limit. 🚀
There was just one problem.
I dramatically underestimated the time, energy, and money that it would take me to complete any one of the tasks on my long list.
The result?
I set myself up for poor planning. And that led to overwhelm. I worked hard. But it didn’t produce some important results I had hoped for.
But 2024? That’s a whole different story. Here’s my NEW approach to planning:
1/ Clarifying my LT vision.
In 2023 I got lost in the details. And I lost track of my “big picture”.
This year? I’m zooming out. I wrote down what matters most to me – relationships, health, work. Then, Chat GPT helped me draft my obituary (weird but effective, thanks Ali Abdaal!). Emotional? Yes. Clarifying? Absolutely.
2/ No more vague goals.
In 2023, I made ambitious goals without thinking through the time and resources it would take to make them happen.
In 2024, I am getting super-specific. I’m breaking down each goal, time estimates x 1.5%, detailed budgets, and hiring in support to accelerate progress.
3/ Sequencing goals.
In 2023 I often found myself working on all of my goals at the same time.
For 2024 it’s all about sequencing. One goal down, then onto the next. No more multitasking madness.
4/ Shifting mindsets.
I know that I won’t reach any of my goals without shifting some flawed mindsets. Here are three that I’ll be working on in 2024👇
👉 OVERTHINKING to TAKING ACTION
👉 SECOND-GUESSING to TRUSTING
👉 BEING REACTIVE to BEING INTENTIONAL
What about you? How are you mixing things up for 2024? Hit reply to this message – I’d love to know!
⚒️ My favorite planning tools
I’ve built pretty simple systems for keeping on track. Here are my go-to planning tools in case this gives you some ideas and inspiration.
🧭 YearCompass – This is GOLD. A free planning booklet you can download to close 2023 and plan for 2024. I printed it and spent 2 hours on it with my family. Loads of prompts for deep reflection. Shoutout to Romy Alexandra for the tip!
💻Notion – if you are new to Notion, think of it as your digital brain for planning, thinking, and organizing. It’s home to my Breakthrough Facilitation course, content calendar, and my annual plan.
📝Evernote – My digital treasure chest. I stash everything here – facilitation resources, links, articles, toolkits, inspiring quotes, and more. If I find something cool, it goes in Evernote. And then I share the best bits with you:)
📱Apple Notes – Ever get those random aha! moments? Apple Notes is my catch-all for those. Idea for a newsletter? Jot it down. Course content epiphany? In it goes. Then, I funnel these ideas into Notion. It’s like having a brainstorm buddy in your pocket.
What about you? What tools do you swear by? Hit reply and let me in on your secrets!
💪Facilitator Finds
Introducing “Facilitator Finds”. It’s a brand new section of The Quest.
Each week I’ll drop the BEST links, resources, and tools to help you flex your facilitation muscles and elevate your live sessions in 2024. 💪
1/ 💌 Nadia Chaney’s Strength-Based Facilitation Free Email Course.
SBF is a big deal in community facilitation, yet it’s like a hidden gem. Nadia’s offering a FREE 10-part email course. She’s a facilitation superstar, and one of the most exceptional facilitators I know.
2/ ✨Alexandre Eisenchteter’s AI Tinkerers Club.
Alex = facilitation wiz + AI guru. His AI Tinkerers Club? A goldmine for facilitators, consultants, and trainers wanting to master AI. Join to “tame the AI beast.” 😅
3/ 🎥 The Engagement Show w/ John Chen and Roger Hackett
A 20-minute video/conversation between two seasoned virtual facilitators about how to boost engagement in meetings. Things they cover in this show: how to make the first 5 minutes count, inviting active participation, and having fun. H/T Lux Narayan for sharing the link.
Got your own facilitation finds? Hit reply to this email. I’d love to feature them (and YOU) in this section.
💬 Quote for 2024
“Success is making progress toward things that matter to you and enjoying the process.”
Ali Abdaal, Author, YouTuber, Productivity Expert
💌 Thanks for reading The Quest
I always love hearing your feedback and suggestions. Just hit reply to share your thoughts and ideas.
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Creatively yours,
Whenever you are ready there are 2 more ways I can help you:
👉Custom coaching & team training. Book a free 15-minute zero-commitment call with me to see how I can support you and your team.
👉5-week Live Online Course. The Breakthrough Facilitation course gives you tools, personalized feedback, and a proven framework for designing and leading high-engagement live sessions. Join the interest list and be the first to get the next cohort dates and discounts.
