Are you a part a system, or apart of the system?

Are you a part of the system, apart of the system?(7 min read)

          With the year coming to a close, its always a great time to pause and reflect on your year. Self-analysis is key to personal growth and I am a champion for it. Every year it goes without saying that everyone plans out their goals and visions for next year. I love this atmosphere of change and growth. However, many fail to create a system or lifestyle that will allow them to accomplish those goals. This is where the true committers to their visions differentiate from the ones who will be in the same situation again at the end of next year. Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” This same goes for your life. To accomplish greater things next year, it will take a shift in your lifestyle. What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your goal? How many hours will you dedicate a week to building your business or dream? These are serious questions you must ask yourself. From there, you can create a new system for next year that will allow you to accomplish those goals. When you have a system to live on, it gives you a way to measure how well you did. Did you stay on the system you created for yourself at the beginning of the year? 

           The best part about being an entrepreneur is our ability to act when many choose not to. We are brave, we are talented, and we challenge the system. This is the beautiful part of engaging in business in the U.S., it is truly a land of opportunity. But this opportunity is only being realized by 8% of the population, even when over 50% of new business survive at least 5 years and 33% survive 10 years or more!  It’s not due to the lack of talent, so what must it be? I relate it to the number one thing adults fear: public speaking. Many people get serious anxiety and their stomach churns at the thought of giving a speech to an audience. Worried about all the wrong things that can happen, ending in embarrassment. You are literally on display to the world. That’s how I see entrepreneurship, except we talk through a different language and stage; presenting value to the world.  You are literally on display to the world. I say forget about those apprehensions and start small and who knows what the next five years can bring?

Here’s my process of planning out my year:

Questions to ask yourself 

1. Where do I want to be in 5 years? Often in our goal setting, we put limits on ourselves and think too small. This challenges my thinking and allows me to see a bigger vision so next year looks way more manageable. 
2. How many hours on average did I work per week last year? This is an objective way to measure the only input you have; time. It also gives you’re a benchmark for next year to see how many more hours you can add. Check out Gary V’s recommended schedule.
3. How much money did I bring to the table per month and the annual total? You can easily print your bank statements online. This lets you get a clear picture of your bottom line. Not knowing can be extremely dangerous. 
4. What were my monthly average expenses? I like to separate mine into fixed and variable expenses. It gives you a clear picture on what types of costs are associated with your lifestyle/system.
5. What percent of that money did I invest in my business(s)? It doesn’t matter where you start, you can double or triple that next year by changes in spending habits.
6. How much did I save each month and total? As an entrepreneur, when it rains, it pours, and you want a nice emergency cushion. My favorite online savings account is Ally. They are offering 2.00% interest which is crazy!!
7. What percent of the year did I stay on the system? My system is based using a bullet journal where I create a custom one, but you can use a planner, calendar, or this cool one designed by a fellow entrepreneur. 
8. How many times did you engage with your passion(s)?  For example, one of my passions is traveling so I would look back and see how many times I was able to take a trip. It gives you a benchmark for next year. 
9. How much time did I dedicate to my personal growth? I include things books I read, podcasts subscriptions, bible studies, and anything that you believe contributes to your personal growth. 
10. How much time did spend with family/friends? Balance is key, and family is only here for a while. This is an important part of me, so I measure this by how many times I spoke or visited key people in my life. 

         Now with these answers, I create my goals in each category for the year and I work backwards to plan out a weekly system that will propel me to accomplish all my goals. One of my tricks is to plan a system to accomplish my goals in 10 months, so that way I have a 2-month cushion for the randomness of life. Remember to include rest stops along the way to make analyze and adjust your form. Remember, the world will try to distract you and deter you from your goals. It’s a system designed for us to hustle to consume and not create. I say we hustle to create and live by our own system of creating things of value in the world. Are you a part of the system, or apart of the system?

Jon Kinnard

@Hustletocreate