A Year in Review

… and looking ahead to 2024!

Happy New Year, CTOs! As we kick off another year, I hope you spent these past days taking some time off, relaxing and spending time with family, friends and loved one. Also, I hope you had a really nice New Year’s celebration!

Now that the new year has started, perhaps it’s time to take a real, hard look at where you’ve been and where you’re headed. Before you dive headfirst into the chaos of Q1, let’s hit pause. Let’s take a bit of time to reflect before we look forward. Reflection is all about learning from the past to rock the future.

For the past three years, I’ve been using YearCompass to go review my year and set goals for the new year.

Unpacking last year

Let’s get down to business. Grab that YearCompass booklet, print it (or do this digitally), and start dissecting last year. The first page, reviewing everything that happened this pas year, week by week, is always an eye opener for me. Somehow, I had already forgotten about some of the events that I find in my calendar. It’s a great basis for the reflection that comes next.

What were your accomplishments? Yes, even the small ones count. And those challenges? They’re not failures; they’re lessons. What did they teach you? Maybe that ambitious project timeline was a bit too ambitious? Or that new tech stack wasn’t the silver bullet you hoped for? What about your personal life, your friends & family? Is there anything about this pas year you still need to leave behind? Someone you still need to forgive? Now is the time to say your farewells.

Dreaming

Now comes the fun part, dreaming and fantasizing. Start by ignoring the boundaries of what’s possible. If you achieved your ultimate successes this year – what would you achieve by the end of this year?

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

From your dreams, start setting goals. But not just any goals. We’re talking clear, actionable, and yes, achievable goals. YearCompass isn’t about shooting for the moon without a spaceship. It’s about setting milestones that make sense – for you, your team, and your business. Want to boost client satisfaction? Great. How? Maybe it’s refining your onboarding process or investing in customer support. Break it down, make a plan, and set a timeline. Remember, a goal without a plan is just a wish.

Now, you’re a CTO, but you’re also a human being with a life outside the office. YearCompass is your ally in not just setting work goals but life goals too. Maybe you want to learn to surf, or spend more quality time with family. Maybe it’s about reading more or hitting the gym. Whatever it is, write it down. Why? Because your personal well-being fuels your professional success. A well-rounded life isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for peak performance.

Remember, 2024 at this point is a blank canvas. There’s 364 days left, and if you use them wisely, there is very little you cannot achieve.

What’s Next?

Now that you have your plan down, here’s a reality check: plans change, and that’s okay. The key is to adapt. From my annual plan, I bring this back to quarterly, monthly and even weekly plans.

At least once a month, book 2 hours in your calendar. Use those to review your past month, go back to your annual plan – and readjust your plan for the upcoming month. Are you on track? Do your goals still make sense? Life throws curveballs, and sometimes you need to pivot. These check-ins are your chance to recalibrate and refocus. Stay flexible and stay committed. Turn your goals into achievements.

So there you have it. You now have a blueprint for a year of growth, success, and fulfillment. As a CTO, you’ve got the power to shape not just technology but the future of your company and your life. Chart a course that’s ambitious, balanced, and uniquely yours. Here’s to a year of crushing goals and creating memories!