New Year Roadmap: Four Life Lessons To Keep In Mind For 2020As we get ready to wrap up 2019, it's essential to look back at the year's life lessons.

ByAby Sam Thomas

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock

It's that time of year again- as we get ready to wrap up 2019, I feel it's fair to say that all of us are looking back on the year gone by, and making plans for the year ahead of us as well.

I am no different in this case- and having had a think about all of the things I experienced this year, here are four life lessons I learned in 2019 that I will be keeping on top of my mind as we step into 2020:

1. You need to have only one good plan for yourself.

I've heard this message repeated to me several times over the course of 2019 from people I respect, and I do think they're on the right track when they say this. Find that one goal that you are passionate about realizing, and thenwork your way toward achieving it. Don't bother with a Plan B- asThe Pursuit of Happynessauthor Chris Gardner puts it at the 2019 Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival: "If Plan B were any good, it'd have been Plan A."

2. The road to success is rarely, if ever, linear.

It's okay if things don't go according to how you plan it- roadblocks and detours are to be expected (and perhaps even welcomed). Not only will you learn along the way, you might also find yourselfevolving your goalsas you go along. Sure, the hurdles you are stumbling on at the moment may not look like something to be happy about today, but I'm almost willing to bet that they are going to have a massive positive impact on you in the long run.

3. Stop looking for the quick gains.

Patience is a virtue. Take the time to do things right. Look toward the long term when it comes to making decisions in your career or your business. Make the effort to build relationships with the people that matter around you, be it on a personal or a professional level. Persistence and perseverance are really everything, and so make sure that you have these traits instilled in yourself as you go through your respective lives.

4. Kindness matters.

In a world where bad behavior by people in the business realm is almost being celebrated, I'm here to state that the opposite is what really makes an impression- the wins you get to make for yourself by being nice, being decent, and being genuine are far more important than those you make by pulling a fast one. After all, as the saying goes, what you put in is what you get out, and with that in mind, it's only in your interest to behave and act better.

愿你所有的新年。看到你在2020!

Related:Nine Lessons To Learn When You Are An Entrepreneur

Wavy Line
Aby Sam Thomas

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor in Chief, Entrepreneur Middle East

Aby Sam Thomas is the Editor in Chief ofEntrepreneur Middle East. In this role, Aby is responsible for leading the publication on its editorial front, while also working to build the brand and grow its presence across the MENA region through the development and execution of events and other programming, as well as through representation in conferences, media, etc.

Aby has been working in journalism since 2011, prior to which he was an analyst programmer with Accenture, where he worked with J. P. Morgan Chase's investment banking arm at offices in Mumbai, London, and New York. He holds a Master's Degree in Journalism from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York.

Related Topics

Business Ideas

The Top 10 Home Business Ideas for 2023

Can't figure out which enterprise you should launch in 2023? Check out 10 stellar home business ideas to get inspiration.

Entrepreneurs

Infographic: The Top 10 MENA Countries For Tech Startups In 2023

The UAE led the MENA region, with it being home to 339 scaleups, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia follow with 140 and 132 scaleups, respectively.

Growth Strategies

With A Goal To Fully Decarbonize The Last-Mile Industry, UAE-Based One Moto Secures US$40 Million In Lease Financing

With a goal to fully decarbonize the last-mile industry, the startup aims to introduce 50,000 electric delivery vehicles in the UAE by 2025.

Finance

How To Build A Profitable Accountancy Business (From An Accountant Who Did Just That)

When you're an entrepreneur, running a business is your first job, and you'll probably do very little actual accounting as you grow. So, if you love the front-line work, you might need to think again.

Growth Strategies

现在是时候利用的创业热情狗万官方Arab Youth

Young entrepreneurs require a hand up, rather than a handout, to make their way in the world– specifically, less red tape, more vocational training, and more affordable (and accessible) finance.

Finance

Germany's GIZ And Switzerland's Seedstars Launch Joint Initiative To Develop Palestine's Fintech Landscape

While 60% of adults have bank accounts in Palestine, only around 10% utilize credit products, resulting in limited financial literacy and offerings. Similarly, SMEs make up 95% of all business but contribute to just 16.4% of the Palestinian Gross Domestic Product (GDP).