If you are reading this page, YOU are special. You have been referred to this page by one of the participants in the 2012 Plan process. The fact that a participant referred you to this page means you have been selected, by a high performer, to be a reviewer of a personal plan that they have been working diligently to craft. Your selection reflects the high esteem in which the participant holds you.
The referring participant will be eagerly awaiting your feedback on their plan. In an effort to help you avoid disappointing the participant, I decided to share a couple of points that could make the review process more enjoyable, for both you and the participant.
Your candid, constructive, positive feedback can help accelerate the success of the participant in 2012, and even in years beyond that. Many years ago, a very wise mentor of mine taught me an approach to feedback that I came to appreciate (and use). My mentor made the case that feedback was best accepted – and therefore most effective – when given in a 3-1 dosage. He taught me to find three things to praise before delivering just one opportunity for improvement.
For far too many years of my life, when someone asked me for constructive feedback, I took it as an opportunity to showcase how I would have done things differently. Not sure why I thought that was feedback. I think it might have more objectively been called “feedego” (mine 
).
The participant has chosen to use a personal planning methodology that has its roots in the 20+ years during which I have done high-end corporate planning work. My planning methodology might well be different than that you use and prefer. I hope you will not let any such differences become the focal point of your feedback. Sending any participant back to the drawing boards to use a different process, at this point, would likely be very counterproductive.
What I can’t do for the participant, but which you can do, is to assess the logic of the personal plan which they created. Because of the extremely large number of people participating in this free online process, I cannot review every plan. That is why your review is so important. You know the participant and are a trusted source of feedback. You are uniquely qualified to see how one element of thier plan might be out of synch with another element. You hopefully can see the forest from the trees, something your friend might miss in an area or two. When dealing with our own lives, frequently a third party can see something we might be missing.
You also undoubtedly know the strengths of the participant and thus are one of the best people to encourage them to think and act big with respect to better leveraging their strengths. Few things are sadder to me than to see people underestimate what they can do with their strengths and fall-in with nay sayers who, subliminally, would prefer that their “friend” not dream big, plan big, and then implement big.
In short, your role as a reviewer is such an important one. With the right feedback, you can help your friend accelerate their success in 2012.
So, you and I come full circle to a common place. I launched the free 2012 plan process with an audacious goal of giving 10,000 hi-performers the encouragement and a process to help them put in place a thoughtful personal plan with which to launch 2012. I have done so out of a strong belief that that the best cure for our economy is not government handouts, but empowered people who could lead the way, in the United States (as well as in other countries), in creating real value that will stimulate our economy and uplift the spirits of thousands.
I have done that which I can do for our mutual friend…some kind words from you will help launch their new year. Be thoughtful, be compassionate, and be supportive.
I close with a personal request. If you are favorably impressed with the plan that your friend has developed, I hope that you will consider recommending this free process to your own friends. I need your assistance to get to my 10,000 participant goal. One of the greatest gifts you can give a friend, colleague or family member – in these challenging times – is to give them the gift of hope that comes with having a realistic plan for a better tomorrow.
Thanking you, in advance, for any referrals that you choose to make. Remember, the process is completely free, and there isn’t even a required registration (thus not even a need to provide an email address).
You can get referrals started with the process by sending them here.
PS If by chance you yourself don’t yet have a written 2012 personal plan, I hope you will consider joining the thousands crafting plans to accelerate their success in 2012. You too can get started here.
This blog post was written by Dave Carpenter. Dave is a prolific author, inspiring speaker, and well-known consultant to professional service firms. Besides writing regularly for this blog, Dave’s writing can be seen in leading business and personal development publications. Dave is also the leader of the Accelerate Success mentoring program where he mentors high performers in a unique program designed to do great things for the favorite charity of each participant. If you are (1) a high performer who believes you still have untapped potential, and (2) passionate about a favorite charity, you may want to learn more about this powerful program. You can also follow Dave on Twitter, on Facebook, and/or on Google+.
