The Rose, The Bud, and The Thorn

New Year’s resolutions are kind of a joke to me. If any major or short-term goals are worth achieving no specific start date is needed. Start wherever you are; start at anytime.

I do take time to reflect and access the previous day or week or year when it comes to my work and personal goals. I don’t spend a ton of time on it. When my first cup of coffee is gone, it’s time to get moving and be productive.

A lot of To-Do items get carried over. When I see the same unfinished or unaddressed items show up tomorrow, next week, next month, I re-evaluate whether the thing is important enough to stay on the list. Rip the Band-Aid off and go on to something with higher importance.

The ROSE, BUD, THORN exercise is used for goal-setting or reviewing. If you know the original source please share it here so I can give proper credit.

I learned people do this exercise as a daily reflection to set personal goals. It’s also used in business as a project or company review technique.

Either way, the practice is worth considering if you are someone who needs a START HERE structure. For me, if I don’t plan my work day (or write a grocery list) I become a wanderer, in my projects, and the cereal aisle.

Use the ROSE, BUD, THORN exercise as a starting point to set your day or year ahead; whatever feels right for you. The process involves either writing down or sharing with others, or alone, what went well the day before (small victories), what is percolating today (making progress), and the not-so-great, (let’s scratch that thing).

To use this exercise for your New Year’s resolution, share or list 3 specific things about this past year.

ROSE– Something that went well in your personal or professional life. Give yourself a high-five for your major accomplishments. Take the time to savor achievements. You deserve to bask in your own five minutes of fame here. You worked hard!

BUD- Something in development today. This is a goal(s) or idea(s) or plan(s) you are working on right now with real potential to bloom and blossom in 2016.

THORN- Something in your personal or professional life that is holding you back. Are you feeling stuck? Pricked off? Spend time evaluating what needs to be done to pull out the thorn.

Whether you use this exercise for personal or business goals, alone or share with a group, there is merit in looking at your day or year ahead. In order to go forward, to achieve “success” (whatever success looks like to you) having any evaluation tool can get you there.

BE F-G AWESOME TODAY!

Original graphic: Stephanie DelTorchio
Image: Thanks Mike Kenneally!