(Originally posted on JonBrooksGroup.com on 12/9/2109)

Happy Holidays everyone! It's that time of year to stuff our faces and make the once or twice a year migration to connect with family. It's also that time of year when we are sharing our dreams, aspirations, and goals for 2020 while also reflecting back on the past decade!

This year has been especially interesting for me and Brittany. Going from 0 to 60 in 4 years has been an incredible journey, riddled with challenges, failures, and wins; though nothing compares to the priority re-rank when having your first child. Overnight, life changes -- time slows down and speeds up all at the same time. There is certainly an adjustment period that we are going through.

As we pick up our heads and look around, we notice how much the people around us are sharing what they think we should and should not do in business ... and personally. I enjoy the feedback and often seek it out, though what I've realized is that I am not them. I am not wired the same way. I don't have the same risk tolerances and aspirations. And, while I've noticed that others are projecting their goals and desires upon me, I realized I have also been projecting onto others.

This projection of goals has been a source of many issues in our business over the years. Primarily caused by me projecting what I want for someone else within the scope of my world and the way I view it. This leads to me wanting someone's "success" more than they want it for themselves, and then leaves me confused about their willingness to do the activities to achieve my version of their success. The sole issue is that my definition of success is different from theirs. This has been my blindspot.

What I've now realized is that when someone tells you something (feedback or advice, for example), those words are a reflection of that person's own fears and dreams upon you. They are actually talking about themselves... through their worldview lens. So, while the feedback can be helpful, it's important to understand the viewpoint of the person providing the feedback, and the potential motivations and history behind it.

This year, my goal is to follow my own passions and be more aware of the influences around me. My goal is to also help others identify their version of success, rather than defining it for them. After all, success is getting what you want; not getting what someone else wants. Awareness is key.

I hope that this holiday as everyone is sharing their goals, that we encourage those around us to go after what they want. Encouragement goes a long way! One conversation can change the trajectory of someone's life. As it has for me!

• Jon Brooks