End of Year “Blues”?

How do you feel about the end of this year? Excited by what you achieved? Relieved its almost over? Ambivalent perhaps? Or can you feel the “Blues” coming?

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As we approach the end of the calendar year in most “Western business societies”, we tend to take a break and reflect on the year that was.

So just have a think about the year that is drawing to a close right now, about a week away from Christmas.

How Are You Feeling? Excited? Ambivalent? Got The “Blues?”

What are you excited about through that reflection? What did you achieve? Was your year goal driven? Did you fall short of your expectations? Did you “get by”? Or did you meet or exceed or even “blitz” your goals and results? How do you feel about that? Time to celebrate and relax with that winning feeling, right?

I sense some others shaking your head and feeling somewhat ambivalent or “njeh…”. It just “was”. Nothing to write home about. Did what I needed to. Got by. Yawn – another year done. Another year older. So what?

Or maybe you feel like Jason? He’s dreading the end of year break. Why? Well, he doesn’t feel very good about his year at all. In fact, he’s feeling a little like the “blues”. Uninspired, he’s had his boss on his back most of the year. Copped a few warnings that threatened to lead to being “performance managed”. Just didn’t seem to be able to do anything right. They’d promised him the earth and none of that materialized. He always seemed to over promise and then under-deliver.

His colleagues seem to be avoiding (even ostracizing) him. Why? He just seems to attract bad news. Must be all that gossip and politicking. Never seems to see the upside. Always the downside. No confidence. And then that project failed, just as if to prove that he daren’t have that much confidence. Usually goes pear-shaped anyway.

Extreme position, right? Exaggerated to make a point, of course. But think about it. How many people around you do you know where varying degrees or versions of such scenarios are actually quite prevalent?

Many of the people in Jason’s situation risk “the blues” in this time. Perhaps over-indulge with the partying? Masking the regret or disappointment? Not looking forward to that time on your own where the accumulation of your situation hits you fair and square? Having to own up that it’s “going downhill”, and fast.

What can you do about obviating “the Blues”?

Well, what does the first of the above categories typically do in this period that we might learn from and try to emulate?

In The 5% That Know Why, I write about that small, successful group of people that seem to be in control and take and have control. They seem to have it all together. And if they feel “the Blues”, its never for long. Why? Because:

• They are purpose driven.
• They have a direction they want their life and work to go.
• They set goals, and they write them down. They have goals in many aspects of their life, not just work or business.
• They plan what it will take to execute them and fulfill their expectations and those of the people they answer to and also those that look to them for direction.
• They share those goals with others. They have someone hold them accountable to doing what it takes to meet them.
• They find and have mentors to inspire, to guide and to keep them on track.
• They don’t just “show up”. They want to contribute. To Make a difference. To add value.
• They need to be recognized and to recognize others’ contributions.
• They “take” leadership where required.
• They do what it takes to succeed.
• They celebrate their and others’ successes.
• They make time to build and maintain important relationships.
• They know the value of building and maintaining a strong personal and professional network.
• They plan time out not just to relax and rebuild their energy, but to sharpen their axe. They invest in themselves. They read personal and professional development books – every month.
• They don’t rely on one source of income.
• They surround themselves with positive, uplifting people.
• They invest in working with one or more coaches to keep them on track so they can’t “chicken out”.

They are excited about their life and their work and their relationships. They know where they are going and inspire others not just to follow, but to keep wanting to grow. They also get “down”, but never for long.

So What?

None of  this is rocket science, is it? Simple stuff. But not easy. And I’m not suggesting any of this can be achieved over one festive season break. But there are two things I would strongly suggest could make a heck of a difference:

• Make a decision that enough is enough and that this is the time you are going to make this change.
• Make it known that this is what you want and “put out there” that you are ready to find your coach.

Intrigued, but unsure? Questions? Go on, email me at and let’s have a chat. One of my clients texted me at midnight one new-years eve to set a date to meet. He’d had enough. In August of the following year he landed his dream job at well over double his then income package! I know that you too can do what it takes to forget “the Blues”.