2012 New Years Resolution: Family

2011 was a year of ramping up efforts in communities. I became an active member of local communities, charities and invested a lot of time making wonderful friends in the Boston social community. Mike Pace and I started the Deep South of Boston which has become a great way of meeting Marketers and business people who live in our community. Developing strong ties to my communities has been tremendously rewarding.  I’ve learned so much from inspiring people. Yet, things have gotten out of balance.

A few years ago I learned to manage my life balance in four segments: spirituality, family, career and community.

life balance

3 Step Process For Making New Years Resolutions

1. Review priorities
2. Compare time spent against priorities
3. Decide what to: Keep doing, Stop doing, Start doing

Step 1: Review Priorities

My priorities are, in order: marriage, family, career, community then spirit.

Step 2: Compare time spent against priorities

How have been spending my time?

In reviewing how I spent my time in 2011, what I learned was I’m not spending time on my priorities. I’m out of balance and I need to make some changes. I need to spend more time with my family and less time in the community. I hate to step back from community and charitable work, but I need to reinvest time with the family. The kids are at a great age and need a father that is making time for them.

Step 3: Decide what to: Keep doing, Stop doing, Start doing

This is the key to making resolutions that stick. We’re all busy people. You can’t just say you’re going to start doing something without stopping something else. And you also have to recognize which activities are worth keeping.

Keep Doing

In 2012 I will:

• Keep dedicating time to my sons scouting – being the den leader for my son’s scouts is a great way to focus on family
• Keep taking the kids to the Bruins game each season. The prices are exorbitant since the won the Stanley Cup, but I can still take each kid to a game for some one on one time

Stop Doing

I get excited by an idea and start things that are hard to maintain. I don’t think things through. This year I won’t start anything new, I’ll focus on managing the time I have and focus on my priorities. If I want to start something new, it will be centered on family life and I’ll only begin after thinking it through.

In 2012 I will:

• Stop spending so much time in communities
• Limit activity in the Deep South of Boston
• Take a break from the Lions club until the kids are older

Start Doing

Changing direction. Starting something new. This is where the fun happens. For me the key is to let it come to me. I’m going to create time for serendipity. By spending less time in so many communities I will have more time to spend with the wife and kids. We don’t have a plan. We’ll make it up as we go.

This is the way life is – you shift your activities in accordance with your priorities. In 2011 I decided to focus on expanding myself in my communities and I was very successful. Too successful. It’s time to rebalance.

Best wishes for 2012.