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A theme word sets the tone for your year, serving as a guide and focus for your actions. Choosing one word that resonates with your goals and values can bring clarity and motivation to your journey. Having one word also helps to keep it simple and have that as a beacon or focus as you move forward with your goals.Step 3C of the Performance Planner (page 15), is the spot to select a word that encapsulates your intentions and aspirations for the year ahead.<h3>Why a Theme Word Matters</h3>A theme word simplifies your focus and connects your goals with a clear, inspiring intention.Here is why this step is impactful:<ol><li>Clarity: A single word can capture your goals and values in a meaningful way.</li><li>Focus: Your theme word provides direction for decision-making throughout the year. It is memorable and compelling.</li><li>Motivation: Seeing or repeating your word keeps you inspired and aligned.</li></ol><h3>How to Choose Your Theme Word (Page 15 of the Planner)</h3><ol><li>Reflect on Your Goals: Consider your aspirations for the year. What word captures the essence of what you want to achieve?</li><li>Think About Your Values: Which word reflects how you want to show up in the year ahead or summarizes what you will need to do to achieve your goals?</li><li>Simplify: Choose a single word that feels powerful and resonates deeply with you.</li></ol>Example Words<ul><li>Finish: this is my word for the year to nail some of my key goals!</li><li>Faith: this is my daughter’s word for the year to trust the process and believe it will come together (spiritual)</li><li>Focus: Prioritizing what matters most.</li><li>Courage: Embracing boldness and resilience.</li><li>Balance: Seeking harmony across key areas of life.</li></ul>Above and Beyond<ul><li>Create a Visual Reminder: Write your word on a sticky note, use it as a screensaver, or display it where you’ll see it daily.</li><li>Incorporate It in Your Planning: Use your word as a filter for decisions and goal-setting throughout the year.</li><li>Share Your Word: Discuss your theme word with a friend or coach for added accountability and insight.</li></ul>Choosing a theme word is a simple yet powerful step to stay intentional and aligned throughout the year. Take 15-20 minutes to reflect and find the word that inspires you most.

Imagine Your Theme Word for the Year                                 (Step 3C)

This is a fun step in the process. You have been thinking and planning a lot, and it is a good time to take a creative break!A vision board is a visual representation of your goals and dreams. Creating this helps you stay focused and inspired throughout the year. You can make it digitally, on paper, or a poster and then hang it where you can see it daily. It helps remind you of your walk the talk and the goals you set out for the year. It is easy to get distracted, so this helps you to keep seeing the future you want to create.Creating your Vision Board is Step 3B of the Performance Planner (page 14).<h3>Why a Vision Board Matters</h3>A vision board connects your goals to a physical representation, reinforcing your commitment to them.Here is why this step is impactful:<ol><li>Focus: Seeing your goals visually keeps them at the top of your mind.</li><li>Motivation: A vision board serves as a daily reminder of what inspires you.</li><li>Clarity: Choosing images and words sharpens your understanding of your goals.</li></ol><h3>How to Create Your Vision Board (Page 14 of the Planner)</h3><ol><li>Gather Materials: Use magazines, printouts, or digital tools to collect images, quotes, and words that represent your goals.</li><li>Organize Your Ideas: Group the images into categories that align with the eight areas from Step 2A. Tip: make sure to put the year on the board. As you do this annually, it is fun to look back over your progress.</li><li>Build Your Board: Arrange the images and words on a board or in a digital collage. Focus on making it inspiring and meaningful to you.</li><li>Place It Where You’ll See It: Keep your vision board in a visible spot to stay connected to your goals.</li></ol>Above and Beyond<ul><li>Include Affirmations: Add empowering statements to your board to encourage positivity.</li><li>Use Digital Tools: Create a digital vision board as your desktop or phone background for constant reminders.</li><li>Update It Regularly: Revisit and refresh your vision board throughout the year to reflect new goals or priorities.</li></ul>Creating a vision board is an inspiring and creative way to stay connected to your aspirations. Take an hour to build your board and enjoy the process of making your dreams visible!

Imagine Your Goals Through a Vision Board (Step 3B)

Great work getting to Step 3! Working through steps 1 and 2 takes a lot of effort and commitment. Way to stick with it! It is worth it! You are making great progress!This step is intended to shift gears a bit and tap into more of your creative side. Life can feel clearer and more exciting when you take the time to envision what is possible. The process of envisioning helps you clarify your desires and connect emotionally with your goals. It provides the inspiration and motivation needed to turn ideas into action.Often as people do this step, they get more clarity on what they want integrating their goals, walk the talk, and a picture of the life they want to create.In Step 3A of the Performance Planner (page 13), use the block to imagine your ideal future. &nbsp;You can use it to make notes of what you would want to put on a board or create something outside the planner (ie a digital board or paper board with pictures). I like to make boxes with key themes or areas and note what I want for those areas (health, work, family, fun, home, friends, etc.)This step invites you to create a mental picture of your year ahead, focusing on the areas that matter most.<h3>Why Envisioning Matters</h3>Envisioning is about more than daydreaming. It builds clarity, excitement, and purpose around your goals. It is a visual of the life you are creating.Here is why this step is impactful:<ol><li>Inspiration: A clear vision ignites excitement and motivation for the future.</li><li>Clarity: Imagining your goals makes them feel tangible and achievable.</li><li>Connection: Emotional investment in your vision increases your commitment to achieving it.</li></ol><h3>How to Envision Your Future (Page 13 of the Planner)</h3><ol><li>Imagine Your Ideal Year: Take a few moments to picture yourself at the end of 2025. What does your ideal life look like?</li><li>Focus on Key Areas: Envision how you want to feel and what you want to achieve in each of the eight areas from Step 2A.</li><li>Describe Your Vision: Write down what you see, feel, and experience in this ideal future. Be as specific and vivid as possible.</li></ol>Example ReflectionsHealth: “I feel strong and energized, consistently working out and eating well.” (picture of a fit person at a gym) Career: “I’ve finished ______________ project and advanced to the next level.” (picture of the project)Above and Beyond<ul><li>Journal Your Vision: Write a detailed description of your envisioned future. Focus on the emotions and outcomes that resonate most with you.</li><li>Draw or Sketch: Create a visual representation of your vision, even if it’s a simple drawing or chart.</li><li>Meditate on Your Vision: Spend 5-10 minutes daily visualizing your future to deepen your connection to it. (add to your daily AM habit)</li></ul>Envisioning your future is about giving yourself permission to dream big and plan boldly. Take 20-30 minutes to complete this step and feel the excitement for what’s possible.

Imagine Your Future with Envisioning (Step 3A)

In the Wheel of Life and the Walk the Talk, we have been focused on 8 largely external areas of our lives. &nbsp;It is very important to have these areas of our life in balance and order.Additionally important but more invisible, is what is happening on the INSIDE. I like to think about this as the leadership of ourselves and others. This is about who we are “BEING” versus what we are “DOING.” Our “being” affects our “doing.”While we are inventorying, this is a great time to reflect on your internal strengths and identify growth opportunities. In Step 2C of the Performance Planner (page 12), the chart guides you through 4 areas to assess your internal skills, identify gaps, and prioritize growth areas for the year ahead. This exercise helps you better understand your current capabilities and what you need to develop to achieve your goals.<h3>Why Internal Skills Assessment Matters</h3>This step is about building confidence and clarity around your abilities. It sets the stage for personal and professional growth.Here is why this step is impactful:<ol><li>Clarity: Understanding your strengths and weaknesses provides a clear starting point for growth.</li><li>Focus: Identifying skill gaps helps you prioritize what to develop for maximum impact.</li><li>Confidence: Leveraging your strengths builds momentum and self-assurance.</li></ol><h3>How to Assess Your Internal Skills (Page 12 of the Planner)</h3><ol><li>Score: Quickly go through the chart and score each skill on a scale of 0 (low) to 10 (high)</li><li>Highlight: Go through and notice your top scores (i.e. 9 and 10) and highlight them in GREEN. Look at your bottom scores (i.e. 3 and 4) and highlight them PINK. Note: the number depends on where your TOP and BOTTOM scores were and essentially your top 6 highest, and bottom 6 lowest (or so).</li><li>Reflect: Is there any pattern or similarities in the scores that were all the lowest? While we often look at strengths and what is right with us, when looking at our internal growth, we want to look at what is most likely to take us out of the game and work to upgrade those areas, so as you look at the pink areas, look at how they might be related and summarize with a theme or choose one to two skills to develop that will have the greatest impact on your ability to achieve goals.</li><li>Plan Action Steps: Write down specific actions you will take to build these skills, such as taking a course, practicing, or seeking mentorship. </li></ol>Example Reflections<ul><li style="list-style-type: none;"><ul><li>Strength: I am highly organized, which has helped me manage complex projects effectively.</li><li>Gap: I struggle with public speaking, which has limited my ability to share ideas confidently. I will work on developing this skill by joining Toastmasters and hiring a speaking coach.</li></ul></li></ul>&nbsp;Above and Beyond<ul><li style="list-style-type: none;"><ul><li>Create a Growth Plan: Map out steps to build a specific skill, such as joining a class or setting aside practice time.</li><li>Leverage Strengths: Identify ways to use your strengths to achieve your goals faster.</li><li>Reflect Quarterly: Reassess your skills throughout the year to track growth and adjust priorities.</li></ul></li></ul>Assessing your internal skills is about being honest with yourself and taking intentional steps to grow. Spend 20-30 minutes on this exercise and start the year with a clear plan for personal and professional development.Great work!

Assess Your Internal Skills: Strengths, Gaps, and Growth (Step 2C)

Life can sometimes feel out of sync when our actions and habits do not align with our values or goals. The end of the year is a perfect time to assess where you are walking the talk and where adjustments might be needed.In Step 2B of the Performance Planner (page 11), you can reflect on your alignment between what you value, the goals you set, and the actions you take. This process helps you identify gaps and create a plan to bring more congruence to your life in the year ahead. Additionally, as you are thinking about your goals for the new year, it is natural to have a list of several things you would like to do. This “walk the talk” page is a natural place to grab your “New Year’s Resolutions”, “mini goals” and hot actions you want to take. They tend to be more actions versus something that needs a full plan. Your SMART Goal in future sections is that one area you really want to develop and create a plan to ensure it happens. This is more of a “punch list” of actions you want to commit to and be intentional about in the new year to improve the different areas of your life.<h3>Why Walking the Talk Matters</h3>This step is not about perfection but about honesty and progress. Alignment creates integrity and clarity, which leads to more meaningful results.Here is why this step is impactful:<ul><li>Authenticity: Ensuring your actions reflect your values helps you stay true to yourself.</li><li>Clarity: Identifying gaps highlights areas to improve and where to focus your energy.</li><li>Momentum: Small shifts in alignment can lead to greater motivation and sustained progress.</li></ul><h3>How to Assess Your Alignment (Page 11 of the Planner)</h3><ol><li>Consider the 8 Key Areas of Your Life: Reflect on the eight areas and what you thought would make these areas a 10. Consider what actions would make each area better.</li><li>Identify Gaps: What creates a gap in this area and what change or action would make it better?</li><li>Plan Actions: Write down one to two actions you can take in the year ahead to improve alignment in each area.</li></ol><h3>Example Reflections</h3><ul><li>Health: In my health, I set a goal to work out three times a week and drink 8 glasses of water a day.</li><li>Finance: In my finances, I need to have a monthly budget, review it at the end of each month, and save $250/month.</li><li>Space: I will clear my desk and pick up my space at the end of each day.</li></ul><h3>Above and Beyond</h3><ul><li>Design: Look at the actions you want to take and assess if any would be able to “habit stack” and be built into an AM or PM routine. Try an app like Fabulous to get ticklers and reminders.</li><li>Seek Accountability: Share your reflections with a coach or accountability partner to stay on track.</li><li>Revisit Regularly: Alignment is not a one-time exercise. Check-in monthly to update, refine and adjust.</li></ul>Walking the Talk is about living in integrity with your values and goals. Take 20-30 minutes to complete this step and reflect on where small adjustments can make a big difference. After you finish your plan, this is a page you want to copy and post. Doing actions from this page is what will help you enjoy a sense of achievement and momentum in your life!It helps to fuel your steps toward your goal, which usually takes more time and effort to get off the ground. The Walk the Talk are simple sets that help you to lean strongly into creating the life you want!

Assess Your Alignment: Walk the Talk (Step 2B)

Life can feel busy and full of priorities pulling you in many directions. It can be challenging to step back and see the bigger picture of where you are thriving and where there might be room for improvement. The Wheel of Life is a helpful tool to reflect and assess how balanced and fulfilled you feel across key areas of your life. It also helps to assess and determine which area you would most like to focus on in the year ahead.The end of the year is a great time to do a personal assessment of your life and the different areas that make up your world. In Step 2A of the Performance Planner (page 10), you have the opportunity to complete a <a data-mce-href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ueRxMr0KWUrzgA40yK2kEPSWYhiQa8q5/view?usp=drive_link" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ueRxMr0KWUrzgA40yK2kEPSWYhiQa8q5/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wheel of Life</a> assessment. This visual tool guides you to reflect on eight main areas of life, rate your satisfaction, and create a clear picture of where you might want to focus your energy.<h3>Why the Wheel of Life Matters</h3>The Wheel of Life is not about achieving perfection or balance in every area. It is about creating awareness of where you feel aligned and where small shifts can lead to greater fulfillment. This step provides a foundation for setting meaningful goals that reflect what matters most to you.Here is why this step is impactful:<ol><li>Clarity: Visualizing your satisfaction across different areas helps you see what is working well and what might need attention.</li><li>Focus: By identifying areas that feel less aligned, you can direct your energy toward creating improvements where they will make the biggest difference.</li><li>Perspective: This exercise is a chance to step back and consider your life holistically, rather than getting caught up in day-to-day details.</li></ol><h3>How to Complete Your Wheel of Life (Page 10)</h3><ol><li>Reflect on the Eight Areas: The planner provides a template with areas such as health, finances, relationships, and personal growth. Use these or customize them to fit your life. (For example, volunteering might be under faith or fun. Learning new skills might be under growth or fun. A boyfriend/girlfriend might be under immediate family or friends. Pick the area that supports the key quadrants for you.) Here are ideas for each of the eight areas:<ul><li>Career/Work: Current job or business, satisfaction, salary, bonuses, benefits, coworkers, location, flexibility, challenge, opportunities for growth, sense of fulfillment, work-life balance, retirement plans, educational opportunities, and future potential.</li><li>Faith/Growth (Spiritual): Spiritual beliefs, reflective practices, commitment, traditions, community participation, teaching and sharing with others, family involvement, reading or studying, connection with God or a higher purpose, meaning of life, personal growth experiences, and giving back through volunteering.</li><li>Environment/Space (Office/Home): Living space, cleanliness, organization, ambiance, ability to relax at home, workspace functionality, vehicle maintenance, addressing nagging tolerations, creating an inspirational and supportive environment, and satisfaction with your surroundings.</li><li>Finances (Money/Resources): Income, savings, investments, budget, spending habits, debt, financial security, retirement plans, estate planning, tax planning, cash flow needs, insurance protections, charitable giving, and donating to causes you care about.</li><li>Health (Fitness, etc.): Physical condition, energy levels, mental and emotional well-being, fitness, sleep, nutrition, preventative care, posture, hygiene, overall appearance, sports or physical activities, stress management, and holistic health practices.</li><li>Immediate Family (Significant Other, etc.): Love relationship, mutual goals, parenting, family dynamics, family activities, communication, shared values, support, children’s education, instilling self-esteem, and traditions.</li><li>Extended Family/Friends (Social): Relationships with extended family, friendships, networking, supportive mentors, clubs or organizations, community service, political involvement, charitable efforts, entertaining others, family reunions, and meaningful connections.</li><li>Fun/Recreation: Hobbies, music, relaxation, creative activities, travel, cultural experiences, significant ideas, time with friends, audiobooks or reading, enjoying nature (like sunsets and flowers), activities that spark joy, and volunteering as a joyful way to connect and contribute.</li></ul></li><li>Rate Your Satisfaction: For each area, rate your current level of satisfaction on a scale from zero (could not be worse) to ten (perfect). Be honest with yourself—this is a personal reflection, not a judgment.</li><li>Assess the Areas: <ul><li>The Gain: Why did you give it the score you gave it? What were wins and successes? What is good?</li><li>The Gap: What kept it from being a 10? What is not what you want or desire? What is not working?</li><li>What Would Make It a 10?: What actions and activities would make a difference next year? What would you like to commit to doing that would make that area better?</li></ul></li><li>Reflect: Are there areas where you feel stuck or want to grow? Which areas feel strong and balanced? What one area, if improved, would naturally impact the others positively too? Example Reflections<ul><li>Personal: Health is rated a 9 because of consistent exercise, but finances are a 4 due to lingering debt. Improving my finance area would also improve my health by reducing stress.</li><li>Professional: Career is rated a 7 with good momentum, but personal growth is a 3 because there has been little time for new learning opportunities. If I grew by learning a new skill, it would both raise the 3 as well as open new opportunities in my career. </li></ul></li></ol><h3>Next Steps: How to Use Your Wheel of Life Insights</h3><ol><li>Celebrate Your Wins: Acknowledge areas where you feel high satisfaction and plan a way to celebrate it! Reflect on what you are doing that makes these areas strong and what is important to keep doing.</li><li>Identify Focus Areas: Choose one or two areas to prioritize for improvement this year.</li><li>Set Goals: Use these reflections to start setting specific, actionable goals in Step 4 of the planner.</li></ol><h3>Taking the Exercise to the Next Level</h3><ul><li>Journal Your Observations: Write about your ratings and why you chose them. This deeper reflection can help uncover patterns or insights.</li><li>Share with a Partner: Discuss your wheel with a trusted friend or coach to gain a fresh perspective or support.</li><li>Revisit Quarterly: Life shifts, and so will your Wheel of Life. Check-in throughout the year to adjust your focus as needed.</li></ul>The Wheel of Life is a simple yet powerful tool to help you see where you are and where you want to go. Take 20-30 minutes to complete this step and reflect on your findings. Small adjustments in key areas can create ripple effects that bring more fulfillment and alignment to your life.Happy assessing!

Assess Your Balance with the Wheel of Life (Step 2A)

Synergy Strategies

Synergy Strategies is a leadership and executive coaching firm providing professional development for executives, leadership teams, managers, and organizations. Led by Christy Geiger, MCC, the firm offers one-on-one coaching globally and utilizes tools such as IMX DISC, Gallup StrengthsFinder, and EQ-i 2.0 emotional intelligence assessments. Coaching supports leaders in gaining clarity, building focus, and creating a strategic plan for growth. Areas of focus include emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, team alignment, communication, and sustainable performance.



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Imagine Your Theme Word for the Year ...

Imagine Your Goals Through a Vision Board (Step 3B)

Imagine Your Future with Envisioning (Step 3A)

Assess Your Internal Skills: Strengths, Gaps, and Growth ...

Assess Your Alignment: Walk the Talk (Step 2B)

Assess Your Balance with the Wheel of Life (Step 2A)