How to Set Goals, Create Purpose, and Craft a Year You’ll Love
Every January, I sit down with a small group of friends to reflect, reset, and design the year ahead. Over the years, we’ve developed a simple framework that helps us capture wisdom from the past, clarify our priorities, and focus our energy on what truly matters.
I call it “Designing a Great Year.”
This process has shaped not only my business but also my relationships, health, and spiritual life. I’m excited to share it with you in two new formats:
- An ebook that explains the framework in depth
- An interactive app you can use right inside this blog to complete the exercises and generate a printable plan for your desk
The 7 Exercises
Here’s a quick overview of the steps we walk through each year:
- Wisdom – Capture the most important lesson you learned last year and note wisdom shared by others.
- End in Mind – Imagine your last words. What would you want your loved ones to hear?
- Gratitude – Record three moments from last year you’re most thankful for, and reflect on why they lit a fire in you.
- Purpose – Define the purpose of your money, who you’ll spend your time with, what you’ll be proud of, and who you’ve forgiven. Then, make commitments to love specific people and show them how.
- One Thing – In eight areas of life (family, career, spiritual, health, etc.), jot down the one thing that matters most this year. Circle your top three priorities.
- Good Finder – Train your eyes to see the good by writing down positive things you’ve noticed in others.
- Love – Begin the daily practice of writing love notes—simple reminders of what you appreciate about someone in your life.
When you finish, you’ll have a personalized “Great Year” summary you can print, keep at your desk, and use as a compass for your decisions throughout the year.
The Ebook
For those who want to dive deeper, I’ve created a free Designing a Great Year ebook that explains the background, philosophy, and stories behind each step. It’s a great companion to the exercises.
The Interactive App
To make the process easier, I’ve also built a simple web app you can use right here on this page. Instead of scribbling notes on paper, you can type directly into the app, save your progress during the session, and print out a clean PDF when you’re done.
👉 Scroll down to try the Designing a Great Year App
Why This Matters
At the end of the day, retirement planning isn’t only about money—it’s about life. Setting aside time to reflect, clarify your values, and write down what matters most helps you align your financial plan with your life plan.
When you know your purpose and priorities, decisions about spending, saving, and investing become clearer.
Try It for Yourself
Here’s how to get started:
- Download the ebook for background and inspiration.
- Use the app below to go through the seven exercises.
- Print your summary and keep it where you’ll see it every day.
Here’s to a year filled with wisdom, gratitude, purpose, and love.
✨ P.S. The app below is free to use. Give it a try and let me know what insights you discover!
