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- Effective Quarterly Review
It’s the first week of Q2, and here’s your friendly reminder to do something that’s truly groundbreaking - and yes, I’ll keep saying it every quarter: do your quarterly review.
This isn’t just a productivity ritual. It’s a commitment to stop drifting. Because most people don’t pause to reflect… and that’s exactly why most people don’t hit their goals. If you want this year to feel different, this is your chance to reset with purpose.
Tip of the Week: Even the best pilots course-correct mid-flight (but it help to know where they’re going).
THE THEORY
Reflection is a success habit, not a luxury. In The Power of Full Engagement, Loehr and Schwartz remind us that performance depends on regular renewal. High-performers reflect with intention, not guilt. It’s about insight and not judgment. John Dewey said it best: “We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.”
Plans are meant to evolve. In Deep Work, Cal Newport recommends quarterly reviews to refine your direction and reduce distractions. Agile teams worldwide use retrospectives to improve after every sprint. You don’t need to overhaul everything, just tweak enough to move forward with purpose.
You can’t adjust course if you don’t know your destination. In aviation, the 1-in-60 rule says that being just one degree off course means you’ll be a mile off for every 60 miles traveled. Over time, that can land you in the wrong city; or in our case, the wrong life. A clear vision lets us course-correct before we drift too far.
MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS
Quarterly reviews are my reset ritual. After 15+ years in productivity, I’ve learned they’re what separate drifting from delivering. Jeff Bezos said it best: “Be stubborn on the vision, but flexible on the details.” That’s how I approach every check-in. I’m in Year 2 of my 3-Year Plan (3YP), so vision keeps me grounded, reviews keep me on course. [Side note: Helping tech professionals craft a clear vision and plan for the careers (and life) - in the form of a 3YP - has been the most common and fulfilling exercise I cover in my 1:1 coaching sessions. If that resonates, hit reply - I’d love to hear your story.]
HOW TO PUT THIS INTO PRACTICE
Use this Flight Check Framework to guide your review:
Ground Yourself: Block ~20 minutes this week. Turn off distractions. Go inward.
Scan the Journey: Write out each week from Q1. Use your calendar, notes, or photos to reflect.
Debrief with 3 Columns: For each week write down Pluses, Minuses, Insights. Spot the patterns. Name the lessons.
Color Code (RAG) Your Goals: Green (On track); Amber (Progress, but unclear); Red (Off track and needs change).
Course-Correct with Courage: Drop what no longer fits. Adjust systems or raise your ambition. Ask yourself: Were the reds too ambitious? Or the greens too safe?
Share for Perspective: Tell someone your updated goals. Ask for honest feedback or an outside view.
Bonus: No goals yet? Start now: April is your new January. Set goals for the next 9 months. Use my goal setting frameworks to help you out (Part 1 and Part 2).
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