In the final quarter of 2020, I took time out of my busy schedule — as I do every year — to reflect. I looked at where I stood personally and professionally, where I wanted to go, and how I would get there.
That year was unlike any other. Not just for me, but for my family, friends, colleagues, clients, and people around the world. Reflection forced me to recognise the strength we often underestimate — our resilience during life-changing events. It also reminded me to value the relationships I’d built across all areas of life.
Planning your year ahead helps you shift focus from what happened to what’s next. It gives clarity and sets a solid foundation for how to move forward with intent.
Take a Holistic Approach to Your Development
Through the many articles and conversations I’ve engaged with, I’ve anchored my personal development plan around five key areas: social, mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
Some of my colleagues create vision boards. I prefer a written development plan. Regardless of the method, the key is to start somewhere.
Here’s the framework I use:
- Set clear personal and professional goals
- Rank your priorities — focus on what matters most
- Create a timeline — commit to when you’ll achieve each goal
- Recognise threats and opportunities — 2020 taught us to expect the unexpected
- Expand your knowledge and build your skills
- Lean on your support network — whether that’s your partner, your boss, or your mum
- Track your progress and reflect often
Why 2021 Was All About Me — And That’s OK
The reason I’m sharing this? My 2021 personal development plan focused unapologetically on me. I set clear goals, some extending into 2022 and 2023.
Using the framework above, I worked through my “why” and “how”. My top priority? Learning. I wanted to expand my knowledge and develop stronger skills — and that meant going back to study. So I did.
In my mid-40s, and after 12 years away from formal education, jumping back into study felt scary. But I saw the value in investing in myself, and that gave me the push I needed.
Choosing the Right Path
Once I’d committed to further education, I had to figure out exactly what I would study. I reviewed my career — every role, every skill, and every lesson I’d learnt.
I saw that my experience stretched across financial services and recruitment, both industries built around people development, technical knowledge, and relationship management.
That reflection led me to the Master of Business Administration (MBA). It aligned perfectly with my skillset and goals. I joined a pre-course workshop in January to get a feel for the programme. It helped me refine my plan and prepare my support network for the challenge ahead.
Managing time — not content — poses the biggest challenge in the MBA. Juggling a full-time job, study, and life demands careful planning. But because I built strong support systems and committed to my goal, I knew I could push through.
Start Your Personal Plan Today
If you took time over the summer to reflect and now feel unsure where to begin — try this framework. My approach might not suit everyone, but it offers a starting point.
When you define your goals, you give yourself direction. And when you look back, you’ll feel proud of what you achieved (and I’ll be sure to keep you updated on my progress).
If you’re planning a career change in 2021, or you’re a leader looking to develop your team, reach out. I’d love to support your goals and have a conversation about where you’re headed.
P.S. I’ve got plenty of other goals for 2021… but I’ll save those for another post!