I had to laugh and say, “I don’t know who your coworker is, but I promise that I did not pay her to do any marketing for me!”
She looked almost relieved, and then said, almost in a pleading whisper, “I really can’t take another year like this.” She began “leaking” huge crocodile tears as she continued, “I’ve lost so much! I’ve lost my marriage. I’ve lost my mojo. I’ve lost my financial stability. I’ve lost my self-worth, self-esteem, self-confidence…”
I paused as she wept for a moment and listened with compassion, knowing we could do this.
“I’ll do your program, regardless of the cost… I’ll do every exercise… I’ll show up when you tell me to… Just please, please help me have a different year… A different life!”
My heart went out to her. And to so many others who so desperately need a better year.
But you don’t have to be desperate, or at the end of your rope to have the year of a Champion! Perhaps you had a good year and would like to have a better year. Perhaps you have a great year, but you’d like to have an extraordinary year! It’s for every single one of us including…me!
The ‘adrift at sea’ comment probably comes from something I often borrow and quote from Michael Hyatt. If you do not choose your direction, and your destiny, you will find yourself drifting to destinations that you would not have otherwise chosen.
Isn’t it exciting to know that we can choose and design our destination and our journey?
I’ve been training Champions for this for almost 3 decades. Here are some of the comments that have come from Champion to have ‘designed an extraordinary year’ with me.
“I had no idea what doing something other than New Year’s resolutions would do for me, my business, and my marriage. I had the best year in the history of my business and my wife said it transformed our marriage. Can I take the course again this year?” Kenny, Rochester, NY
“After 35 years of drifting, I only did your Extraordinary Year program because my friend wanted to get the discount you offered for two signing up together. I enjoyed the process, but the results speak for themselves. Now that my kids are in high school, I decided to open a little side hustle business. I have matched my husband’s income, and now he’s doing the program with me so that he can retire and work our little side hustle with me.” Ellen, Tacoma, WA
“My fiancé and I came to your program, hoping that something would salvage our relationship from the toilet. Our repetitive heated arguments were about what we were doing in our individual businesses. I thought designing our years together might help. Not only did it help, but we ended up combining our businesses … miraculously. The wedding we kept postponing happened last month. We truly created (and are living) an Extraordinary Year.” Mac & Autumn, Fort Worth, TX
Are you ready to design an extraordinary year? Let me give you a couple of exercises to get started. Then I’ll share the three major ways that Champions design an extraordinary year.
Here are the prep steps:
If you wanted to go a to a great place…like Disney World and you entered it into your GPS…you’d also have to allow your GPS system to give your current accurate location to get your there in the most efficient way.
Make a list of at least 25 words that describe where you are currently. It’s important to accurately locate yourself.
I love the example Zig Ziglar often gave of the import of this concept. Judas had a goal to make money. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that goal. But in achieving the goal he became a traitor and a betrayer. Who we want to become is a critical step in designing an extraordinary year!
Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to design an extraordinary year.
I did this prep exercise with my new client, and she was quite surprised that despite her horrible year, she still had many things to be grateful for.
She also said to me in describing her ‘current location’, “Even though I’m deeply distraught about where I am, realizing that it’s simply a marker to get me to a new destination was actually … hopeful. I never dreamed I could get myself out of this deep sh*t hole I’ve found myself in!”
Speaking about who she wanted to become was and is like a ray of sunshine in a very dark storm.
What about you? Have you done these prep steps? If you have not, press pause before you go on!
It’s a vital part of the process of Designing an Extraordinary Year that I truly want you to design and experience!
1. DESIGN YOUR POWER WORD
One of the crucial pieces of designing an extraordinary year is to first reflect upon who you’d like to become in the upcoming year. Write out words that describe who you’d like to become.
This year, my list included words such as:
- Filled with radical faith
- Influential
- Highly resilient
- Contagiously cheerful
- Surprisingly fun
- Consistently energetic
- Boldly determined
- Laser focused
- Emotionally unshakeable
- Courageous enough to embrace truth that hurts
After you’ve considered who you want to become, think of a word, a power word, that you could use to remind yourself of who you’d like to become.
For this year, I’ve chosen the word: INSPIRE. It’s a powerful word for me. It has shown up over and over in my life, confirming it is my word for the year.
I received a Giving Key for my birthday, and it had the word INSPIRE engraved on it. (In case you’re not familiar with Giving Keys, visit the website: thegivingkeys.com).
You buy a key with a word engraved on it for yourself (or give it as a gift). You wear it until you encounter someone else who needs ‘that word’ engraved on your giving key more than you do (because you’ve grown to become your word) and you give it to them.
This year, I want to INSPIRE my clients, those in my membership group, those I encounter at the store, those I love. Therefore, it’s my ‘power word acronym’ for the year!
Your power word must:
- Feel powerful to you
- Have special meaning to you
- Be at least five letters
Once you’ve selected your word, write it down a page, and use it as an acronym to write short words and phrases for each letter that describe who you’d like to become, and what you’d like for your life to look like in that process.
For example, here’s part of what I’ve done with my power word:
I ncredible healing partnership
N ever ending favor, courage & determination
S pirit-led and Spirit filled membership site
P rosperity in health, relationships, & finances
I nvicible Champions
R edeeming love
E nergy, enthusiasm, fun & laughter
Then print it, post it … make it your screensaver! Put your power word everywhere. I have it up on the wall in my workout room, along with the keywords and phrases. On your desktop, on your desk, in your calendar, in your car. Put it in places that you’ll see it multiple times daily.
Then begin the habit of waking up and let that word be the first word out of your mouth every single day.
Getting ready for your day, say the word out loud along with all your keywords and phrases. The more volume and the more energy that you put it out with … the more deeply it beomed planted in your soul.
I always find a quote or a verse with the word in it that I also read aloud daily. For this year mine is, “Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you
INSPIRE shouts of joy.” Psalm 65:8
These are some of the words and phrases my delightful client identified as we explored who she wanted to become:
- Confident
- Joyful
- Brave enough to start anew
- Courageous enough to risk failure
- Whole in mind, heart, & spirit
The power word she chose was … DAUNTLESS.
Here were some of her words and phrases:
D aring to dream again
A bility to believe for good things
U nshakeable
N othing less than hope
T
L
E
S
S
I’m very excited to see what she comes back with for the rest!
She emailed me her quote after her last session:
“Let thy dauntless mind still ride in triumph over all mischance.” William Shakespeare
Who do you desire to become in the upcoming year? What will your power word be? Choose a word that will excite you and motivate you to step into the VERY BEST version of YOU!
2. DESIGN YOUR TARGETS
Targets are those things that will create more respect in yourself, for yourself. And elicit more respect from others if you hit those targets. You must design them to ensure your success!
“What’s the difference between targets and goals,” my client wondered out loud?
I affirmed that it was a great question. “To me the difference is that a target sets you up to win. I still believe your target needs to be ‘smart’ or ‘smarter’.”
Michael Hyatt breaks that down to mean:
Specific
Measurable
Actionable
Risky
Time keyed
Exciting
Relevant
I believe targets are more than trying to hit the “bull’s eye.” They have markers along the way that lead you and inspire you toward the bull’s-eye.
First you define the bull’s-eye in “smarter” style, but then you add mini steps in the outer circles, each leading you closer to the bull’s-eye.
For example, one of my bull’s eye’s targets this year is to launch a powerful membership site that resurrects our inner Champion.
I have 12 circles surrounding my bull’s-eye on my target (red, white, red, white, etc). And some of the circles have multiple steps that take me closer to the bull’s-eye.
Example: The bull’s-eye is launching my site. But the 12th outer circle is to take five days off in January to review all the video trainings about launching a site and rethinking and outlining my new plan with new target dates.
My outer January circle has three steps in it:
- Rewatch the video series
- Rethink and outline my new plan
- Set target dates for my plan
My Target allows me a win in the very first step of the outer circle. Whether or not I get to the bull’s-eye, I have a win already. (Because I’m already on the target!) And with each step closer to the bull’s-eye, I have another win.
This does several things…it allows me to control and manage my dopamine flow…and…to win regularly!
Come on! Tell the truth! We all love wins!
Personally, I set a bull’s-eye target for each of the seven core areas of my life every year. In order to improve my self-respect, I use the respect word as an acronym for each of the seven core areas of life:
Relationships – How to grow significant relationships.
Energy and health – Taking care of your health, wellness, and vibrancy with powerful lifestyle practices.
Spiritual growth – The act of accepting that you have a life spark that was given to you and practicing the purposeful and intentional act of shining that life spark onto individuals, groups, and organizations in a way that inspires them to light up the darkness of others. Creating a cascade of light and life with your one small spark.
Personal Living with priority – Prioritizing daily life by things that align with your life’s purpose.
Emotional mastery – It is the ability to clearly identify and feel every emotion, determine the gift available to you with each emotion, and use the gift of the emotion to chart a course forward that empowers you, and inspire those around you.
Career and finances – How you earn & manage career and financial matters.
Teaching / Touching others – How you make a difference and do life in ways that will leave a legacy.
Some people recommend only setting 3 to 5 goals or targets annually. I go ahead and set targets for all seven areas. But then I prioritize the top three. That’s where most of my focus and energy goes.
The other four areas may have lesser aggressive bull’s eyes, but I set it up so I can make some progress in all seven areas.
Take a moment and write SMARTER targets for all seven areas. Then go back and do the outer circles of the target for each of them. (Monthly’s or if you prefer, bi-monthlies. Or weekly’s).
YES! It takes time. But if you fail to do so, you’ll drift through yet another year.
This was truly inspiring to my client, “You know…I can do this. I’ve never been much for goals, but this makes sense. And I can have ‘wins’ all year long instead of feeling like I’m standing in front of ‘judgement day’ at the end of the year!”
I loved her enthusiasm. I KNEW she could and would design an EXTRAORDINARY year.
What about you? Will you do what Champions do to ensure an extraordinary year? I believe you will! PRESS PAUSE! Take time to do this for yourself. Your spouse will appreciate it, your life will be a living testimony of an extraordinary year, and you’ll experience the greatest growth EVER!
Isn’t it about time to end another year. Will you truly feel good about yourself? It doesn’t just happen…WE…make it happen!
Let’s do this together!
3. DESIGN YOUR POWER PROCLAMATION
“I’m excited about this. I always wondered how people put them together. I know it’ll set the rudder of my ship in the right direction! I want the drifting to STOP!” I understood totally!
Years ago, when my life was crumbling around my feet, and I was feeling powerless and drained of any self-confidence, my good friend, and admired mentor, Vikki Burke, helped me put together my first proclamation. I trusted her because I saw her living a life of powerful anointing and influence. I knew that I wanted what she had. Although I had no idea how or where to start, it was the single greatest contributor to my restoration (other than God’s help).
Whether your life looks like ashes at your feet, or whether you’re on a great path and simply desire to go to higher heights … you cannot imagine the transformation that accompanies a power proclamation.
So let’s get started!
I asked my client to walk through these questions with me and answer them the best she could. The next step is to find a quote or Scripture that speaks to each of the things you’ve written in response to the questions.
I will make brief notes of her responses to provide examples that will hopefully help you to respond. I also included some of her quotes, scriptures, and other hints of wisdom, that for her, spoke for each response to the questions.
(We processed the questions first, then went back to find quotes, verses, or wisdom to speak to her responses. I also encourage you to respond to the questions first, then go back to find wisdom that speaks to your responses. I included hers together).
What are you struggling with in your life right now?
Knowing that there’s anything good in me. Believing that I’m not flawed to the core.
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” David
What are you having to stretch to have faith for (or believe for) right now?
That my life can be different. That I can find myself and love life again.
“I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah
What are you hoping/praying for that hasn’t appeared in your life yet?
That I can feel strong, confident, and like I belong somewhere. I really want my energy back. I want to feel good, feel like I look good, and I want to feel like I can overcome whatever happens to me, instead of it overcoming me!
“Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you know.” Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh
What negative thoughts do you have coming to your mind?
What if this doesn’t work for me? What if I’ve just ruined my life?
“For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I’ll make a road through the wilderness of the world, for my people to go home, and I’ll create rivers for them in the desert!” Isaiah, TLB
What “chatter” are you hearing in your head?
Don’t get your hopes up. You’ve ruined your life.
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” Nelson Mandela
What are the desires of your heart?
I want to love again. I want to have the marriage I’ve dreams of since I was a little girl. I want to love with all my heart and be loved like never before! I want to help others like me who think their world can never be resurrected.
“We’re not broken, just bent, and we can learn to love again.” Pink
“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
Now for the fun part. Start putting some of the quotes together in a way that empowers you to become all you were created to be! It may take some time, but it’s fun and it’ll keep your sails set for the greatness you were created for!
Here’s the first draft of my client’s proclamation:
I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and I’m ready to step up and live again! I know God is with me and wants to take care of me, and He has great plans for my future. I’m braver than I believe. Stronger than I feel. Smarter than I think. And I am very, very lovable!
This is a brand-new season in my life. There’re roads through the wilderness and rivers in the deserts…All for me. I’ll step into my hope and my choices will radiate hope.
I may have been bent, but I’m not broken. I can and will love again. In my own gentle way…I’ll rock the world! My life has just begun!
Take the time now to write your power proclamation. Keep it everywhere. On your phone, on your computer, on your mirror, in your car, in your journal …
First thing each morning, read it aloud. If you really want it soul-installed, read it with determination while moving. I read mine on my climber, while dancing, or on my elliptical. Getting your blood flowing installs it deep within your heart, soul, and spirit!
Champions refuse to drift. They’ve no desire to end up in destinations, they would not have otherwise chosen.
What about you? Do you want to set sail to an extraordinary life? I know you do.
Design your power word.
Design your targets (the “can’t miss” kind!)
Design your power proclamation.
Champions do this because they want to choose their destiny, instead of drifting into nowhere!
I hope you’ll join us.
I know you want to.
But failing to do these three things will leave you at the whim of the winds and waves of life. Sending you wherever the next storm desires.
No more drifting for me! What about you? Remember, you’ll never find purpose until you purpose to do so.
I hope you’ll go to my Facebook page and share your stories! (https://www.facebook.com/drneecie/) Inspire others! It’s so rewarding and fulfilling to be the wind beneath someone else’s wings.
As the song says:
Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
You’re everything I wish I could be
I could fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings!
Get ready for an extraordinary year!
