So, how was 2012 for you?

Yes, it’s that time again when we all chorus ‘where did the year go?’ and, at least for some of us, ‘what the heck did I do with the last 12 months?’

But, if you stop to think about it, whether your year dragged along or sped by, you’d probably be amazed at the lessons you have learned (and re-learned) about life over the past 12 months.

So what did happen to 2012?  For those of us in London, the highlight of the year must be the unforgettable Olympic Games.  I was privileged to see a little of what was happening behind the scenes in my role as a career coach to a number of the Organising Committee employees over the past 15 months, and it was fantastic to see what a triumph they were able to pull off.

2012 has definitely been a year of reflection for me and, in the spirit of giving that the Christmas season inspires, I thought I would share my top 5 lessons from those fascinating Games and this very interesting year.  So, here goes.

Lesson One :   Goals are great; but you really have to want to kick the ball.

If you don’t want something badly enough, no amount of coaching or encouragement in the world is going to make you want it. No coach can make an athlete if that individual is not motivated and hungry for success.

What I learned is that no-one should have to want something for you more than you want it for yourself.  If the goal is really not worth pursuing, stop wasting your time thinking you want it and find something else to do.  Sometimes we grow out of our goals or just lose interest.  Simply put, if you don’t want it anymore, let it go and move on.

Lesson Two :   Life is a team sport.

To do life well, it’s all about people. This makes it critical that you choose the people that you surround yourself with very carefully and decide, with even more care, those that you need to keep away.

Watching the Games this summer, it was apparent that behind every Olympic superstar, there was a team that made it possible for that athlete to excel; coaches, trainers, nutritionists, publicists, physiotherapists and more. No-one succeeds entirely on their own and being aware of that fact should remind us to stay as humble and as grateful as we possibly can.

Although you don’t always get to choose who gets into your life team, how you deal with the more difficult members is entirely up to you.  As I once read on a poster, ‘You can’t control who you let in your life but you can choose which window to throw them out of!’  Figure out who is really on your team and adding value to your life or who is simply coming along for the ride, and take action accordingly.

Lesson Three :   There’s no glory without the guts.

The 30 seconds on the medals podium listening to the strains of their National Anthem only happened because of months and years of hard, painful, lonely training and effort on the part of the medal winners, many battling through injuries, self-doubt, exhaustion and disabilities to claim their prize. No athlete climbed the podium simply because they were talented.

What I learned? That talent without effort is called potential.  To get results, you have to put the work in – consistently.  Much as we may hope to win the lottery, the reality is that for the vast majority of us, success; however we define it, will come only as a result of exercising our talent in order to fulfil our potential.

Lesson Four :   The importance of Focus.

Nothing focuses the mind like an immovable deadline, and watching the machine that was responsible for putting on London 2012 operate was an incredible eye-opener.  With the most highly publicised deadline of any event and with the eyes of the world on them, the team behind the Games simply had to deliver.

With detractors at the ready and unforeseen mishaps occurring just before the finish line, the Games’ organisers stayed focused.  Refusing to be distracted by the media and the predictions of failure, they put contingency plans into place and the show went on.

We can’t always escape from our detractors and those who are waiting to see us trip up or fail, but perhaps the lesson is really about where you choose to put your focus. Because you can focus on the people that bring you grief or celebrate the ones that bring you joy.  You can see the glass as only half-full or focus on the fact that, by taking action, it will soon be brimming.

Lesson Five :   It’s not about winning; it really is about taking part.

When I think back to the many hours of sport I watched over the summer, except for some of the really high profile events, I honestly can’t remember who most of the winners were.  What I do remember, though, is the incredible effort on the part of all those who took part.  From the close wins to the unexpected losses, just watching people who were truly present and engaged in what they were doing was an inspiration.

My lesson from this? Life isn’t about just showing up; you’ve got to take part.  Knowing that we don’t know when our finish line is coming should encourage us to simply enjoy the experience. Enjoying the journey rather than worrying quite so much about the destination will only add to who we are and who we can get to be.

Those are my lessons from the wonderful Games and I look forward to what I’ll learn from 2013!

PS :   I started the year by urging readers to make just one New Year’s resolution. If you did, what was it and did you succeed in fulfilling it?  If you did, high fives and congratulations all round. If not, what happened to take you off track?  Is it still a resolution you are interested in keeping?  If it is, here’s a trick.  Just start it now. Yes, now, in December.  By January you’ll be getting used to doing it and it won’t seem such a major hurdle to be setting yourself for 2013.

PPS :   Keep an eye open for an announcement in early 2013 about how we plan to go forward with ReConnect Africa.  Thank you to those who responded to our survey and we look forward to a new and exciting way of engaging with you in the coming year.

And finally…… Enormous thanks to all the ReConnect Africa team around the world for your amazing work during 2012. I am eternally grateful to you for helping to deliver RCA for a sixth year.  And to all our contributors for your wonderful articles, our advertisers for your business and our readers for your feedback and support; thank you!

I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous and successful 2013.

Author of 'Everyday Heroes – Learning from the Careers of Successful Black Professionals'. Available online from www.everyday-heroes.co.uk and on order through booksellers. ISBN 978-0-9569175-0-8