My 2017 Annual "Rapport"

It is time once again to glance backward, gather data and information, and reflect on the past year.

To me, this is not merely an excuse to report-out facts and brag about accomplishments, rather it is an opportunity to share both the ups and downs in order to build rapport with you. Because it's always a mixed bag, right?

Yet too often it is assumed that we should only communicate about our successes, that we'd never want to reveal our carefully-concealed shortcomings. But portraying this illusion of perfection just creates distance between us. Sharing our "failures," on the other hand, allows us to not only pass along hard-earned lessons, but also ensures that our audience sees us as a fellow human being, someone who they can share with in turn. 

Keeping this in mind, I'd like to give you a peek at what happened "behind the curtain" for me last year. While I worked hard and am delighted by what came of my efforts, I also fell on my face over and over and, like all human beings do, experienced plenty of doubt, frustration, and disappointment. 

 

First, here is the data...

Giving:

Receiving:

 

Even better, here are the stories (briefly summarized)... 

2017 annual report.png

Challenges:

  • 150 job applications, 20 interviews, 0 offers

  • Most challenging clients and projects ever

  • Plans to attend most-anticipated conference dashed

  • Letting go of another network I tried to start

  • Multiple losses of close friends and family

  • Most mortifying moment of my life

Joys:

 

In sum:

I hope this annual rapport demonstrates my ardent belief that by sharing all our experiences, especially our failures, we reveal that we are truly committed to our ideas and gifts through regular, patient, wholehearted practice.

My failures continued to remind me that these are the principles that I believe are worth consistently practicing committing myself to:

 

Join me in making 2018 the very best it can be!

Someone once wisely advised me to consider the past akin to a rearview mirror, as something you glance at every so often to see where you've come from, while keeping your focus on the road moving forward.

As 2017 dawns, I am excited to announce a new way that I plan to put my principles into even deeper practice:

I've launched a Patreon page! Patreon is like Kickstarter but instead of being for one-time projects, it is for on-going creative work. Subscribers pay a monthly amount for the content that is shared with them.

This means:

  • I'm going to be able to produce even more inspiring content, about even more relevant topics

  • You will be able to play more of a role in my creative adventures

  • Most importantly: I will be better able to listen to, learn from, and offer more value to you

Don't worry, I believe in my work being as accessible as possible, so I will continue to write a free blog every month (and send it to your inbox if you wish).

If you want access to more insightful articles, useful worksheets, fun sketchnotes, and eye-opening data stories, you can become a subscriber for as little as $2 a month. In addition to more content, subscribers recieve rewards like access to live sketchnoting, discussions, and personalized content. Plus if our subscriber community reaches our goal, I will release extra special content! Check out my Patreon page here and feel free to share it with others.

I'm so ready to dive even deeper this year so I can give you even more incredible tools for transformation. I look forward to continuing to share the journey with you!

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DataCommunicationLydia HooperComment