2015 = Service.
2016 = Courage.
2017 = Redemption.
2018 = SHIFT. (Surrender/Humility/Inspire/Flourish/Trust)
2019 = Accelerate.
2020 = Expectation.
Every year, I put together a personal growth plan for Team Felicia. I start with ONE word and then build a roadmap for my entire year based on it. I include a vision statement, goals, commitments and the people I will depend the most on for that year.
My therapist has me turn in a final plan before the end of December each year and then holds me to the word, ideas and goals throughout the year. Every December, we then look back over the previous year’s plan and evaluate what worked, what didn’t, etc. We celebrate the wins and we decide if the losses matter or not.
In my 2020 plan, I wrote a line that said “This is the year of no excuses.”
Then 2020 happened and I kind of regret making that statement now. When J asked me a few weeks ago if we cared about the reasons or the results, I realized that when I said I wouldn’t tolerate any excuses this year, I made a bold statement because I had no idea what 2020 had in store.
You didn’t either. How could we have known we would face a global pandemic and national civil unrest in the midst of one of the most divisive election years of our country’s history? How could Nashville know we would get hit by a devastating tornado, rioting protestors and a bomb that took out 41 businesses on one of the most beloved streets of downtown? How could I have known I would have a heart attack, COVID-19 and a massive job transition?
So the question remains: Is it okay to blame 2020 for all my results, or lack thereof?
IAt face value, my personal values tell me that it’s never okay to fail because you didn’t try. And I’ll be honest friends. There were a lot of failures because I just didn’t try. I told myself at some point I couldn’t get there and I just lost my way. Those are the results, or lack thereof, that Team Felicia is designed to hold me accountable for.
Here’s why laziness is not ever okay. There’s a lot of people who hustled hard despite 2020 and guess what? They shattered their goals. I think of my coworker Kristy who closed 3 transactions as a real estate agent in 2019 and then closed nearly $15mil in 2020. I think of my coach Dustin who 10x’d his luxury brand PT business and made his first hire in 2020, even after only starting his business for real less than two years before. I think of my roommate Alaina who is a music photographer and when COVID hit, she had to pivot fast if she was going to make it. She did and she’s been wildly successful in 2020.
Grace is a real thing and we absolutely have to give ourselves some grace for this year and what happened or didn’t happen. Priorities for many of us changed. Some of you became homeschool teachers while working a job from home and others of your lost your jobs altogether. Or your homes. Or your loved ones. When priorities change, so do goals. Celebrate what you DID accomplish this year, even if it was just surviving and keeping your family alive through the chaos.
Just don’t give yourself an easy out because you got lazy in March or August. Heck. Most of you probably gave up on some of your goals before the pandemic even began.
Back to personal growth plans.
In 2020, my word for the year was EXPECTATION. Funny story: It was NOTHING like I expected it to be. Ha!
It was about walking in expectation for goodness and more of God in my life. Let me tell you a few wins from 2020:
I made a job transition to a company that is better than anything I could have ever dreamed for. Oh, and won a top producer award my first year with them.
I turned THIRTY which is a huge accomplishment for me, and I finally began to believe I might live to be 90 if I keep doing the things I’m doing to keep my body active and healthy.
My vision improved and stayed stable enough for me to comfortably purchase a vehicle and get behind the wheel for the first time after being told 3.5 years ago I’d never be able to drive again.
I learned to trust some key players in my story which has been a game changer for me.
I survived a heart attack and COVID-19.
I helped lead and serve as my church’s online campus broadcasted and hosted more than 900 services over the course of the year.
My word for 2021 is INFLUENCE.
Every goal and commitment I’ve made for this upcoming year is geared around using my influence for good. God entrusted me with what I need to help stitch my part of the world back together. I want this year to be about building bridges, leaving people better than I find them and inspiring deep change in the world, one person at a time.
Here’s what stands out to me.
I’ve been on a journey to discover and live in confidence for the last 5 years, and now I’m confident enough in myself and who I am created and called to be so I can go out there and inspire someone else to do the same.
This is the year of building something great, with great people and yep – you got it – NO EXCUSES!
You can have reasons or results, but you can’t have both.
Are. You. Ready?
Felicia Carter 
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