Our last episode was all about looking ahead —

Towards the New Year, the future, the things we want to achieve and the path that will take us there.

Now we take a moment to look back and reflect on the year that was.

Because as important as planning, preparation, and goal setting are, it’s the process - the journey - that matters most.

And there are always lessons to be learned.

So in today’s Awesome Office Show, we take a look back and share the top 8 leadership learnings from 2015.

Here's a quick summary of the topics we dive into in depth in the episode:

#1 - The key to leading an ultra productive and fulfilled life is to say no to all but the essential.

Do less, but better. Greg McKeown's book Essentialism provides a framework for achieving this ideal. 

#2 - Effective communication requires empathy, not expectation.

They key to connecting with an audience - be it a group of colleagues, an audience at a speaking appearance, or readers of a blog post - is to put yourself in their shoes and think about how you can make their day better, take away some of their burdens, or answer their burnig questions. Guest Hank Fortener is an expert on the subject. 

#3 - The single most important marketing question is who do you want your customer to become?

It’s not about the product or service, it’s how that product or service can positively transform your customer. Michael Schrage's book makes a strong, eloquent case for this. 

#4 - The most exciting breakthroughs of the 21st century will not occur because of technology, but because of an expanding concept of what it means to be human

An idea credited to John Naisbitt in his book Megatrends. For those of us who focus on people, this represents an enormous opportunity to innovate and make a positive impact.

#5 - Stress and discomfort are an essential part of a productive office.

An idea explored in our conversation with 15five CEO David Hassell, that a certain amount of discomfort and good stress (or eustress) is necessary in order for employees to experience breakthroughs and do their best work.

#6 - Know your team’s personal and professional goals.

They're intertwined; don't pretend like they aren't. 

#7 - Don’t think of people staying as good and leaving as bad.

Tons of toxic cultures have extremely low attrition rates. Think of your company as a D1 college sports team; some employees go pro, others join your coaching staff. Reid Hoffman's The Alliance and Richard Sheridan's Joy Inc. explore this concept and explode the myth that high retention = good culture.  

#8 - Exercise to feel great, eat to lose weight.

A simple change in mindset can unlock the motivation you need to live more productive, healthier lifestyle. When you focus on feeling good and recharging your energy when you workout, you’ll be less likely to skip and more likely to

As always, if you haven't yet, please subscribe to, rate, and review the show in iTunes. This show grows by word of mouth, and the more we grow, the more Awesome we can all create together.

The end of 2015 is rapidly approaching, and that means it's time to set our sights on the things we want to accomplish in the New Year. 

There is a sense of hope and optimism in the air. A new calendar year is a chance wipe the slate clean, start fresh, and begin anew. All the old habits you swore you'd break, now's your chance to actually break them. 

It's time to finally lose the weight, become more productive, get that promotion. 

But as most of us are familiar, all our good intentions often fall by the wayside as soon we hit the first stumbling block or feel the first tugs of resistance.

It's usually not because we don't want to improve. It's because we didn't approach our goal setting the right way.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

In fact, with a little planning and commitment, 2016 can easily be your best year ever.

That's where we come in.

In this episode, Awesome Office host Sean Kelly shares his goal setting tips, a set of best practices will help you make massive breakthroughs in 2016.

So what makes Sean a goal setting expert?

The answer is simple - he's failed. A lot.

Over the last fifteen years or so, he's tried dozens of strategies, and has developed a set of practices that works - and will work for you too. Think of him as your own personal goal-setting guinea pig.

Instead of blindly charging into 2016 with vague intentions and fuzzier plans, now's the time to pause, reflect, and visualize the things you want to accomplish next year.

Who do you want to be? What do you want to accomplish? How do you want your team and your organization to grow? Does the future excite you? Is your vision compelling? How will you make your vision a reality?

That's what today's episode is all about.

For your reference, we've put together a cheat sheet summarizing the points Sean explores in depth in today’s episode:

11 Super Effective Tips to Make 2016 Your Most Awesome Year Yet

1. Start early
Pilot new habits before January 1. Test them out and make adjustments early on so you can be confident in your approach once the New Year commences.

2. Set your intentions
Think about who you’ll become once you achieve these goals. That person should excite you.

3. Goals must make you a little uncomfortable
Your goals should spur breakthroughs and help you grow, and therefore should be hard... but not too hard. Studies show that you should push yourself 4% beyond your ordinary daily limit (not 40%).

4. Don’t worry about "the how" the first time around
Just set your sights and get after it. The how will come as part of the process.

5. Don’t set too many goals
Shoot for no more than 10 goals total, for all areas of your life - career/business, health, spirtual, etc. 5-7 is the sweet spot.

6. Make sure your goals are S.M.A.R.T.
S.M.A.R.T. stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. It should be obvious whether or not you achieved your goals, and timing is important.

7. Write down goals and make them visible…review goals on a weekly basis
Print them out and put them someplace where you'll see it everyday.

8. Create goals, not action plans that you’ll never be able to execute
Don't set yourself up to fail by creating ridiculously elaborate, year long plans that you'll abandon as soon as you deviate from them.

9. Make your first goal to consistently check your goals
This is where most people fail - they don't check in and hold themselves accountable. Commit to your goals to see real progress.

10. Remember that you’re human
You will fail. Expect it, plan for it, and know that it’s all part of the process.

11. The 5-4-3-2-1 System
Once you set your goals, this system will help you stay on track in the New Year. For 2016, determine:

• 5 things you must do
• 4 things you should stop doing
• 3 new habits
• 2 people to hold you accountable
• 1 new belief

BONUS - 5-4-3-2-1 Worksheet

As a bonus, we've put together a worksheet to get you started. Download the worksheet here (right click and choose save as), then print it, fill it out, and put it somewhere visible - at your desk or on your mirror - as a constant reminder of the goals and the habits you intend to keep.

We hope you enjoy this episode, and want to thank you for your continued support of the Awesome Office Show. We've grown tremendously in a short time, and that's all because of all the great people who - like you - are committed to changing the way we work. We've got some big plans for 2016, and we're so grateful you've chosen to join us on this journey.

As always, if you haven't yet, please subscribe to, rate, and review the show in iTunes. This show grows by word of mouth, and the more we grow, the more Awesome we can all create together.