Strengthening Forward-Moving Systems for 2025
By Steve Backlund
A system is a way of doing things. We are wise to use systems to help increase the likelihood of doing the important things of life. Most of us already have them in place, such as:
Alarms to wake us up for our responsibilities and assignments.
Birthdays and anniversaries to help us celebrate the important people in our lives.
Smoke alarms to alert us of danger.
Automatic withdrawals from our bank account to make sure our money goes where it needs to go.
Weekly church attendance to help us stay close to God.
Both successful and unsuccessful people don’t feel like doing things, but successful people find a way (build systems) to do what they don’t feel like doing.
One of the eight pillars of leadership in my upcoming Radical Growth Mentorship course is intentionality. Intentional people:
Live primarily in the important and non-urgent time quadrant. Unsuccessful people live mainly in the urgent, but unimportant.
Have an investment mindset with their time rather than a debt mind-set.
Realize there are few “normal” weeks, thus they find ways (systems) to keep forward movement in non-normal weeks.
Understand that those who succeed most also seem to fail most (because they are relentless in finding the ways to succeed in different areas of life)
Have various deadlines, meetings, and reminders set in place to “bump into” the important aspects of life.
Some of the personal systems I have developed in my life are:
Morning walks with my dogs - I combine spiritual habits, exercise, and fun during these times.
Key relationships to inspire and create accountability - These regular meetings upgrade my life. If we “hang out” with eagles, we will grow much in our life.
Declaration clicker sitting by the coffee maker in the morning - This reminds me to declare what I believe to start my day.
Putting financial consequences for procrastinating on goals and habits - I pay people money when I do not follow through on what I believe I am to do.
How about you? As you plan for 2025, what systems can you strengthen or start the important things of your life? Here are three questions to ask yourself which will help you move forward in 2025:
What is the most important improvement I want to see in 2025?
What are the key habits needed for this to happen?
What system will I develop that increases the likelihood of growth in this area?
I have accomplished much in my life through having good systems. I have written 18 books, ministered around the world, maintained good health and good relationships, and have grown my ministry, Igniting Hope, into an important voice of hope through its courses and resources. God has blessed us much, but these things did not happen unless I found ways to overcome procrastination, passivity, perfectionism, and poverty mindsets. I love sharing how this has happened through my books and courses, and I will help equip you with the beliefs and systems in the eight-week online Radical Growth Mentorship course starting on January 6, 2025. I invite you to join me!