- Posted on December 30, 2009
Decennial Reflections
Can you believe that we're now a decade into the 21st century? It seems like only yesterday when everyone was obsessing over Y2K and what was going to happen at the stroke of midnight at the turn of the millennium. And now ten years seem to have passed by in a blink of the eye.
The New York Times featured a great "op-chart" this week, "Picturing the Past 10 Years", which is a pictorial summary of some of the high points of each year in categories ranging from business to politics to culture to fads. It triggered some thoughts about putting the last decade into perspective.
So while this is the usual time of the year for annual reflection and resolutions, for a little variation on the usual theme, I invite you to think in decennial terms as you reflect this week.
I think this is especially important since so many of us are eager to usher out 2009 and embrace a fresh start in 2010. We're shortsighted when we don't remember what we accomplished prior to this difficult economic environment.
Here's your homework. Identify three to five for each category during the past decade:
- Your proudest accomplishments
- The biggest challenges/obstacles that you overcame
- Challenges/obstacles yet unresolved (and "must be done")
Now, here's the stretch question. On December 31, 2019, what would you want to declare as your proudest decennial accomplishments?
(Yes, it's harder than doing the usual old resolution drill. It's supposed to be. And yes, it will take more than five minutes to think through.)
I'd love to know what you come up with, so feel free to email me after you've pondered this decennial exercise.
All my best for a Happy New Year, a great 2010, and an even better decade ahead!

Leadership and the Bottom Line
This is a good time to not only reflect on your business vision, but to share it with your team with enough detail so that they clearly understand it.
Personal Power
Your personal power will levitate when you thoughtfully do the decennial exercise.
Trend Watch
What can you take away from the huge success of the future-shock movie Avatar that can inspire something new and different in your business?