9 Important Questions to Celebrate and Review Your Year!

As coaches, we’re good at setting goals, but we’re not always good at reviewing and celebrating.

Rather than just focus on tangible achievements, as coaches, it’s wonderful to also ask ourselves deeper questions like, “What did I learn about myself?” and “What did I bring into being this year?”

Start by setting aside 30-45 minutes, and find somewhere soothing you can sink into these questions. Perhaps you’re snug in a local coffee shop with your favorite latte, in front of the fire at home or in the bath with an herbal tea. Then answer these nine coaching questions to review and celebrate how the year went for you and your coaching business.

Tip: Do your best to identify the full five items for each question—and answer them from the heart. This isn’t about what looks good on paper, but what you are proud of, no matter how small or unimportant it might seem to others.

Here are the 9 Coaching Questions to Celebrate and Review Your Year:

1.  List Your Top 5 Achievements this Year.

This could be something big, small or anywhere in between. What are you most proud of?

1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________

2.  Name 5 Challenges You Overcame this Year.

What was hard? What are you proud of overcoming or dealing with?

1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________

3.  What Did You Learn about Running a Coaching Business?

This could be anything—a skill, technique, useful facts, lesson learned, etc.

1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________

4.  What Did You Learn about Yourself?

For example: strengths, weaknesses, talents, beliefs, values, hopes, fears, etc.

1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________

5.  What New or Existing Relationships Did You Develop?

Who did you grow your relationship with?

1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________

6.  What Did You Create or Bring into the World this Year?

Think broadly—this could be anything at all that has your unique stamp on it.

1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________

7.  How Specifically Did You Make a Difference in the World this Year?

Big or small, how did you help others/your community/the world?

1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________

8.  Where Did I Have the Most Fun?

What did you enjoy most in your business this year? Take a moment to feel into this question.

1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________

9. If You Were to Write a Newspaper Headline that Summarized the Year for You and Your Coaching Business, What Would it Say?

Review and Take a Moment to Absorb Your Achievements

Review your responses. How do you feel as you look over your lists? What are the highlights? What themes and patterns do you notice? If there was one thing that stood out, what are you most proud of this year?

And now for the part we don’t usually do.

You’ve answered and reviewed the questions. Now take a deep breath and really feel and celebrate all that you are—and are becoming. Stay there for 30 seconds, 60 seconds, two minutes. What are you saying to yourself right now that you would like to remember and hold onto?

Enjoy what you feel and absorb it. Relax and stay there a while longer if you can—proud of yourself, your achievements, what you learned and how you grew. Recognize yourself. Really see who you are and what you achieved this year!

Finally, Celebrate

To wrap up this exercise, what reward or treat would remind you that you worked hard, learned and grew as a person? What could you do that would create and anchor a feeling of gratitude and pride in yourself and all you achieved?

Examples could include taking the day off to do something creative or to buy that painting, scarf, tie or jewelry you admire. It could also be something small or symbolic—a lion, an eagle, a chunk of amethyst, a special keyring. It helps if it is something beautiful you will see often. This isn’t about materialism, but rewarding and celebrating you. Choose something that creates an anchor to remind you of this year, something special to recognize all your efforts.

And now all you have to do is commit to doing it: you’re worth it!