WIN NYC x Bar Moga: The Power of Intention and Reflection Event Recap
What does a year of innovation look like? As innovation professionals, we know that can be a loaded question! We might say it’s a year of hard work, full schedules, new highs and perhaps new lows. To close out 2019, WIN NYC partnered with Bar Moga to bring our community together for an evening of reflection and intention setting.
“Tonight let’s give ourselves the opportunity to pause amidst the chaos and sort through some of the experiences from the past year. Let’s take the time to reflect on our victories, hardships, special moments and new relationships”
Bar Moga, a 1920’s Japanese cocktail bar modeled after a Taisho era jazz bar in Japan, where the Moga, or "modern girl," blossomed, was an inspiring place to close out the year. The bar has been praised by the New Yorker for serving woman-produced wines and a signature cocktail whose sales benefit the Breast Cancer Research Fund.
We heard from Bar Moga’s acclaimed mixologist, Nana Shimosegawa, the first and only female bartender at Angel’s Share and now a world renowned beverage innovator at the forefront of utilizing Japanese sake for cocktails. She shared her story along with her 2020 intentions for her greatest adventure and challenge yet: opening her own bar in the new year.
“Overall, I want to approach running a bar in my own distinctive way. I want my bar to set an example. It is possible to make quality drinks, give exceptional service, and manage a successful business without sacrificing a humanitarian mentality.”
In small groups, we took the time to discuss our own 2019 victories and challenges and set 2020 intentions using an adapted version of Steve Schlafman’s, coach and angel investor, methodology.
“It’s difficult to know where to head if we don’t know where we’ve been.”
It’s never too late to reflect and set goals, here are four steps you can take now:
Step 1: Record
Write down your biggest professional milestones from the past year. These could be job changes, new skills, habits, etc.
Step 2: Reflect & Examine
Think back on these (and other) milestones
Success and growth: How did you grow? What are the biggest successes or obstacles you overcame? What were the two or three best decisions? What risks did you take?
Failure and falling short: What were your biggest failures? What did you learn from them? What got in the way of goals? Where did you spend too much time or resources?
People and relationships: What single person had the biggest impact, positive or negative on you? How?
Lessons and themes: What 5-7 words describe this year?
Step 3: Look Ahead
Prime your thinking for 2020
Goals: What are the three big goals for next year? What’s important about them? What are two or three skills / competencies you will acquire?
Habits and behaviors: What are two or three habits or behaviors you will start, stop, and continue?
People and relationships: Who do you plan to build a new relationship with? Who will you mentor and help?
Growth: When will you step outside your comfort zone? How do you intend to be different by the end of next year?
Step 4: Start Planning
Consider a few tactical next steps
How to get there: What are 2-3 specific steps you can take towards your goals? What resources do you need to make progress? How can you create early wins and momentum? How will you evaluate progress?
*This approach to reflection and goal-setting was adapted from angel investor and coach Steve Shlafman’s blog post “How to Conduct an Annual Life Review That Will Catapult You Into the New Year”.
A huge thank you to our sponsors and host for the evening, Bar Moga, along with the fabulous Nana Shimosegawa, for inspiring us with her story. We’d also like to thank Steve Schlafman, for his actionable approach to reflection and goal setting that guided our discussion for the evening. Above all, we are grateful to our WIN community, for sharing your intentions and goals with one another. Until next time!
Written by Marcela Madera
Photos taken by Katie Burwick
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