Every year pretty much all of us, use the start of another year as a time for reflection on the year that was, and a time to dream of what you want the year ahead to look like.

It is no different when we sit down and run a strategy workshop for a team; what have we done well, what have we done not so well, and then given that – what are we going to do differently.

95% of the time, I see people focus on what new things they want to throw into the mix or what they are going to do more of the year ahead.

However, the only thing you really need to think about at the start of another year is what you are going to say ‘no’ to.

It is what we say ‘no’ to that really creates the headspace, time, and mindset to truly achieve progress towards your vision.

One way to do this is an exercise, which we use a lot called ‘the 3 Russian brothers and their cousin’. 

  1. Morov: What are you going to do more of in the year ahead?
  2. Lessov: What are you going to do less of in the year ahead?
  3. Ridov: What are you going to get rid of in the year ahead?
  4. Tossin: What new things are you going to toss into the mix for the year ahead?

It is a very simple exercise that produces amazing focus but it is ‘ridov’ which is the most powerful of the Russians.  So so often we want to add more – more into the mix without freeing up the time and headspace to really make those things happen.

So this year, take a different approach. Start by listing what you want to say ‘no’ to, or using the Russians exercise, what are you going to get rid of in the year ahead.

You can download a copy of the ‘3 Russian brothers and their cousin’ worksheet here…