December 2023 Blog Topic: Write your 2024 plans, goals, and intentions.
By Jamie Allen Bishop with Jamie Allen Bishop Coaching
Focusing on the theme of ‘Joy’ for 2024 is an exciting prospect for me, especially as the calendar flips from December to January. This transitional period radiates with joy and enthusiasm, marked by a shared sense of generosity as we gear up for both giving and receiving. This time of year offers us a moment to tie up loose ends and embrace the infinite possibilities that the future holds. This is an exhilarating season for charting plans, setting goals, and defining intentions for 2024.
As an entrepreneur, I often allow my business to take precedence in my life. However, this year is poised to be different. The reason I embarked on an entrepreneurial journey was to attain time freedom, and it’s high time for me to prioritize reinstating that foundational element into my business.
With this newfound commitment to joy in mind, I began planning my 2024 calendar by prioritizing personal travel, outings, and engagements that bring me joy. Next, I added my consistent volunteer commitments (sources of joy). I then identified events and experiences, such as coursework, concerts, and theater, that I wish to attend in the coming months.
To my surprise, I discovered a significant oversight, not just in my own practices but in many businesses: the reluctance to publish schedules well in advance. This realization hit home for me. As a planner, I understand the joy of choosing opportunities deliberately and waiting until the last minute to finalize schedules is often counterproductive. While I remain open to spontaneous experiences, I’ve found that committing to events and classes months in advance, including my own, leads to a higher level of commitment, better follow-through, and more joy.
This awareness prompted a shift in my approach for 2024. I am currently updating my website to include a comprehensive schedule of the classes and events that I will be involved with throughout the year. By sharing this information, I aim to bring joy and empower others to plan and participate in advance. Through fostering a sense of anticipation and inclusion, the sharing of my plans becomes a simple yet impactful adjustment that I believe will enhance both my personal and professional life with joy.
Thank you, Cheryl Clark, for your blog prompt that triggered this “Ah Ha!” moment in my 2024 planning journey. KUDOS to all of us for prioritizing continued improvement and the joy it brings!
