Welcome back to edition #5 of Pazazz, a monthly newsletter to help you build mind blowing communities, written by yours truly, Paz Pisarski.

I’m feeling good about the start of a new year. I’ve just spent time hiking in the Grampians National Park, exploring waterfalls, feeding horses and camping by the fire. With the Australian summer in full swing, it’s been the perfect time to look back at the year that was and daydream about my focuses for the future.

This is why in this edition I’ll be sharing my process to conduct a yearly review and plan the year ahead, to help you make the most of a fresh start.

Plus if you’re new here, welcome. You can catch the 3 most recent editions here:

1. Should every business build a community?

2. How can community builders leverage ChatGPT to become more efficient?

3. How can you attract new people to join your program?

So what’s the focus today?

For this edition, we’ll be unpacking the question: How can you conduct a yearly review and plan your year ahead?

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love to plan. I love being organised and setting ambitious goals. Carving out time to declare my dreams and write them into the future is something I look forward to on a regular basis, especially at the end of every year.  

One of the ways I've learnt to do this well, is to reflect on the past in order to refine the future. 

Why? This quote from John Dewey says it all:

"We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience."

So here's my process for reflecting on the year that's been in order to plan the year ahead. I hope it helps you on your way to achieve your wildest dreams.

The process is:

1. 🎧 Set the scene 

2. 🌄 Look backwards

3. 🌅 Look forwards

4. 🐘 Get your elephants together 

We'll unpack each section bit by bit. I've also created a Google Doc Template with the entire process for you (to make your life easier 😎). 

Side note: My hope in sharing this process with you, is to inspire you to solidify your own process that works best for you. Pick the best bits and throw out the rest. There's no hard feelings (ok maybe just with the music choice, but I swear I'm not tied to anything else!). You know what's best for you. 

Plus, I'd like to acknowledge the incredible mentors that I've learned from that have inspired this process. They include Dylan Bennett, Veronica Mason, Balder Onarheim, Alison Rice, David Spinks & Michael Batko. You're all legends 🧡

Alrighty let's dive in! Oh yeah, don’t forget to get yourself a tea and play this music as you read along.

PS - there’s this 2024 Goal Setting Workshop if you actually just need to schedule the time in to do this process.

1) 🎧 Set the scene

According to a study conducted by MIT neuroscientists, researchers found that people can enhance their concentration by controlling their own alpha brain waves. Pretty cool huh? 

Alpha brain waves have proven to be an ideal state of mind for creative thinking, problem solving and concentrating on specific tasks for extended periods of time. 

So let's make sure you're in the right mindset and environment to maximise your reflective efforts. 

Ways to get into an alpha state of mind (15mins)

1. Timing: Schedule a time to sit down and reflect when you have the brain space. Block an ideal time out in your calendar when you don't have a 1000 things to do. I like to carve out 2 hours early in the morning. 

2. Environment: Pick the right space that will allow you to focus. A space where you feel inspired and undisturbed (if possible!). I like to be down at my family's beach house in Kilcunda, Australia which has a divine view of the ocean. Plus I could never forget a cup of camomile tea. 

3. Distractions: Be in a quiet space, put your phone on aeroplane mode and close down any other tabs on your computer. It's time to focus.

4. Meditate: Meditation allows your brain to produce more alpha brain waves. I practice Vedic Meditation, an eastern technique, which helps me to focus on the daily. You can also try a simple Headspace meditation if you don't have an established practise. 

5. Music: Play a track that will enhance your concentration. I like to listen to 'Sounds of Solitude' on repeat, a track I composed on piano specifically for deep thinking. Bonus points if you listen to that track whilst reading this piece.

6. Breathing: Relax your posture and take 5 deep breaths. This slows your heart rate, relaxes your mind and body and will allow your brain to produce more alpha waves. 

Bonus tips for getting into an alpha state of mind include practising gratitude, using blue light blocking glasses and visualisation.

2) 🌄 Look backwards

We've prepped our mind, we're in the right space and now we're ready to dive into reflecting on the year that's been. 

The first part is to do something to actually help us remember what the hell happened in the past year. Sometimes I can barely remember what I did on the weekend, let alone the past 12 months 😅

So part one is to: 

Create your yearly photo album (20mins)

1. Open a Google Folder and label it "[YEAR] Photo Album"

2. Go through your phone and/or laptop photos and select the key photos that represent what happened in the year 

3. Save them into the Google Folder 

4. That's it!

Now you have a visual representation as to what happened during the year. This will help you with part two. 

Bonus tips for this exercise include looking through your calendar to see key events, going through your social media accounts or looking back on personal journal entries to spark more memories. 

Now for part two:

Prompts to reflect on the year that's been (30mins)

1. Annual Goals - Did you set goals at the start of this year? Have you achieved what you set out to do? Have you made as much progress as you'd hoped? Annotate the goals you set if you have them or skip to the next question.

2. Yearly Theme - Did you choose 1 word or a theme to represent this year? How did that show up for you? Did it play out the way you intended it to?

3. Personal Highlights - What went well for you personally this year? What achievements are you most proud of (big or small)? 

4. Career Highlights - What went well for you professionally this year? Any significant moments that you are proud of?

5. Values - What values did you uphold this year? How did they help you? Do they still feel true?

6. Challenges - What tested your limits and patience this year? Did you encounter any particular set backs (big or small)?

7. Lessons Learned - Based on the highlights and challenges you faced, what realisations did you have? What was brought to light for you?

8. Mentors - Who were the people that helped you on your way this year? Did you have any new allies that you learned from? Bonus points if you send them a thank you note to show your appreciation - idea courtesy of the legendary Veronica Mason. 

9. Thought Leadership - Which thought leaders did you look up to this year? Any content that you were consuming regularly that helps you on your way? On the flip side, how did you build upon your own thought leadership position this year?

10. Podcasts & Books - What caught the attention of your ears and eyes? Who were your listening to? Who were you reading up on? This is a great one to understand what topics and areas you dived into. 

11. Courses & Communities - Did you take any courses or professional development opportunities this year? Which communities were you involved in? How did they (or didn't they) show up for you? Will you keep them in your corner going forward?

12. Symbol - If you were to describe the year with an emoji, which one would it be and why? My 2023 would be a heart on fire ❤️‍🔥 because I feel like my passions and gifts were fully expressed and warmly received in the world.

Alrighty let's wrap it there. When responding to these questions, feel free to be as brief or as in depth as you'd like. 

I simply put dot points for my answers. Here's an example from my 2023 reflection to give you a better idea:

3) 🌅 Look forwards

Now that we've looked back on the year that's been, let's dive into the future with the following questions to get the juices flowing. 

Prompts to plan the year ahead (30mins)

1. Theme: Pick 1 word to describe the theme of your year. What does this theme mean to you? What do you want to cultivate? For me, my word for 2024 is FOCUS, as I'd like to stay true to what truly matters.

2. Success: If you were to successfully live up to the theme of your year, what does this look and feel like? How would you define success? For me in 2023, success is being of service to others whilst simultaneously feeling energetically fulfilled.

3. Values: What 2 guiding principles will you uphold next year? What values will you remember when making key decisions? 

4. Personal Goals: What would you like to achieve in your personal life next year?

5. Career Goals: What would you like to achieve in your professional life next year?

6. 1 Big Goal: What is the 1 big goal that you'd like to achieve next year above all else? If you were only to do this 1 thing, what would it be? This helps to focus you on what truly matters. 

7. Thought Leadership: Who will you look up to this year? What ambitions do you have to help you become a thought leader? What will you set out to do to share your gifts with the world? For me I'd like to publish an article every month for this newsletter about a new community building tactic. 

8. Growth: What area of your life do you want to develop the most in? What professional development would you like to focus on? Any new skills you'd like to learn?

9. Boundaries: What will you say no to? What will you say yes to? How will you protect your energy?

10. Habits - What habits will you cultivate to ensure you achieve your goals? What daily actions will help you bring your dreams to life? For me, I will do Vedic Meditation for 20 minutes twice daily, do 15 push ups & 50 sit ups every morning and check in with my friend Dylan to see how we're tracking on our goals. 

That's it! I also recommend writing down your answers to these questions in a place that is easily accessible for you. There's no point in doing all this work to then never look at this list again. Keep on reading to see how and where we can build on these game-changing habits.

Bonus tips for planning include writing a letter to your 1 year older self to read at the end of the year, creating a Vision Board for how the year visually feels or downloading your yearly horoscope from Moon Omens and a Lunar Calendar to get in tune with what the planet is doing in the following year (oooft us Scorpios are in for an absolute transformative treat in 2023 ♏️).

Prompts to write a letter to your future self (5mins)

Get a piece of paper or digital notepad and write a letter to your 1 year older self about how the year ahead went for you. You can use the prompts below:

• What do you hope played out in the year for yourself?

• Where do you want to be in your head? (work, dreams, goals)

• Where do you want to be in your heart? (relationships, family, friends)

• Where do you want to be in your soul? (belief, practices, self-love, purpose)

• Where do you want to be in your physical world? (home, health, hobbies, travel)

You can then read this letter at the end of next year and see where you landed. 

Create a Vision Board (10mins)

Are you a visual person? I sure am. Creating a vision board is a fun and creative way to align images with powerful words to summarise the year that you're calling in. It can evoke all the senses, be motivational and act as a reminder for the goals you've set. 

I personally use to think these were lame as hell but after actually doing one it was a real game-changer. I save it as my background and it reminds me of my goals and dreams everyday.

Here's a sneak peek of the one I created for 2024:

Bonus points if you print it out and hang it in a place you see regularly or make it your desktop screen saver.

Keen to make one yourself? I've got you. I've made you a Canva template here that you can make a copy of to create your own (you're welcome). Plus I like to use Unsplash for photo inspiration. 

Now let's dive into the very last section to bring this home!

4) 🐘 Get your elephants together 

Whilst you might be curious about this title (or confused lol?), let me talk straight with you for a moment. 

There is no point in us doing all of this great reflection and planning, to then basically let your goals sit in a place that gathers nothing but dust all year round.

"Ahh what were those goals and boundaries I set at the start of this year?" 

No. We are not going to let that happen. 

We're here to actually make a difference in our lives. I don't want you to set these amazing goals and ambitions to then suddenly forget about them all. 

Instead, let's dive into a system that will help you become the person in your dreams. A system that is easy, fun and simple. A system that will take you the extra mile to experience the extraordinary...

Because in the great words of James Clear:

"You do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems."

So let's systematise this thing. LET'S GO ❤️‍🔥

How to achieve your dreams in the new year 

3 years ago I read an article written by Michael Batko called 'Elephants' which changed everything for me. The article beautifully writes about a system that will provide you with the support to reach your most ambitious goals. 

After I read the article, I immediately put the system in place. It's now been 3 years using this system and I can confidently say that this is the hands down one of the most powerful things I have ever done to help me achieve my dreams, and others with theirs.

Heck, one of the first goals I ever wrote at the start of this elephants process in 2021 was to: "Be in a loving and supportive relationship with someone who cares deeply about me". And you better believe it people, in 2023 this goal rings true 🥹

Now, I can't guarantee that the elephants process will help you do exactly the same... but hey, we're going to give it a crack (whether it's for your personal or professional life!): 

1. First up, I'd encourage you to read Batko's article 'Elephants'. It explains the full process in great detail. 

2. At a high level, the system encourages you to choose your 'Elephant' AKA someone you trust in your life who you'd like to set and check in on your goals with. For me, I called my friend Dylan who I trust deeply. We use to work at RMIT Activator together and he is now also running 2 of his own businesses. We agreed to be Elephant buddies and merged our names together to coin the team name DAZ to make it memorable. 

3. Then, organise to catch up with your elephant on a regular basis. First at the start of the year to set goals together. Then a regular catch up to check in on how you're tracking. Finishing with a celebratory end of year catch up to reflect on how you went on your goals that year. For me, Dylan and I started with a monthly Google Meet catch up and now 3 years on we've moved it to every 6 months with a Whatsapp chat to check in on the go. 

4. Once you've shared your goals with each other, document them. Create a shared digital space where you can both access your goals so you know what you're trying to achieve. For us, we created a shared Coda document and wrote our annual goals, reflections and Bucket List in there. 

Here's a snapshot of what our calendar invite and Coda doc looks like:  

And that's it! Now it's time for the human reminder, remember to actually care personally for your fellow elephant, as well as looking after yourself at all times 🧡 Plus the next thing is to actually put in the work. Start small and start simple. Practise makes perfect. 

How can you apply this to your own role?

I made you a Google Doc template here with the entire process. Make a copy of it and go through this reflection & planning exercise in your own time. Don’t forget to make your our Vision Board with my Canva template here.

You made it

Shall we take a deep breath together? Um yes. 

Breath in, breath out. 

I really hope this process helps you on your way. It's taken me years of refinement to land on this and I can hand on heart say that it has worked absolute wonders for me. Pure magic even. 

It's that dazzling combination of reflecting on what's worked, bringing in more of that goodness into my life through planning and then speaking that into existence alongside my good friend Dylan. It's a recipe for the great. For the ambitious. For the courageous. Plus it's absolutely incredible to see your friend grow and succeed over so many years as well. Stay tuned for a photo from DAZ in real life in 2024 as Dylan flys down from Darwin!

Sending you all the good vibes to call in your dreams for the many more years to come. I'll be cheering you on, always.

Actually, that reminds me, if you need help achieving any dreams or goals related to community building, I'd love to help you more deeply. You can pop your name down here to hear about when our next Community Cohort program launches. We've even built a process to match you in a mini 'Cohort Crew' (AKA Elephants buddies) during the program to help you on your way.

Ok I’ll be back in your inbox on 17th February to answer your most pressing questions.

Which reminds me, have a question you’d like to ask about community building or productivity? Hit reply to let me know. I’d love to help you.

Until then,

Paz Pisarski
Co-Founder of The Community Collective

You can expect this newsletter on the 17th of every month.
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Bonus Section

Still reading huh? Well you made it to the bonus section where I share an insight into my life.

Proud moment: 30,000 people listened to my relaxation music across 148 countries last year 😭 😍 This was out of this world to learn.

Challenging moment: Playing guitar and swimming over summer have been put on the back burner as I had a piece of wood go through my finger and it stayed in there for 12 days after 2 incorrect surgeries. Tough to say the least 😅 However I’m feeling much better and my hand is now nearly healed after a 3rd correct surgery hooray! What lessons did I learn from this? Always wear gardening gloves and have a trustworthy GP.

Personal moment: I’ve moved in with my boyfriend for the first time into a beautiful home along the Surf Coast in Australia and it’s been absolutely divine. Plenty of decorating, Monopoly deal, home cooked meals and hugs. It’s been just what the doctor ordered.

See you next time.