Click here to listen on your device and subscribe!
Welcome to Indie Author Chat, the podcast designed to help you explore the ideas and insights behind today’s most thoughtful nonfiction books. Join host Laura Finch for engaging conversations with independent authors as they share the wisdom and inspiration behind their books—each title carefully curated by Weaving Influence Press.
In this episode, Laura talks with Jobert E. Abueva about the concepts behind his new book, The Janus Plan: A No-Resolutions Path to Begin Your Year with Intention. Inspired by the Roman god Janus, who represents dual perspectives and transitions, his book guides individuals, families, and teams in reaching sustainable goals by reflecting on past experiences and setting realistic, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives. Abueva highlights how understanding our limitations and learning from the past can empower us to plan better for the future.
Key Points From This Episode:
[01:48] Jobert discusses why it’s so difficult to keep New Year’s resolutions and how The Janus Plan changes your approach to goal-setting.
[04:28] Jobert explains how reflecting on your past allows you to set more intentional goals for the future.
[10:11] Jobert describes how he discovered the Roman god Janus and why the dual perspective symbolism has helped him throughout his life.
[13:26] Jobert explains why it’s important to set goals throughout the year, not just make New Year resolutions, and not be afraid to pivot those plans if your circumstances change.
[19:01] Jobert discusses why you should take a step back from your responsibilities at times to broaden your perspective.
[22:11] Jobert describes New Year’s celebrations from around the world and the importance of goal-setting in all cultures.
[25:19] Jobert explains why you have to see your life like a tapestry, taking the good and the bad together.
[28:32] Jobert lists the many ways readers can interact with The Janus Plan and get the most out of the exercises in the book.
Resources:
- Learn more about The Janus Plan and pre-order your copy.
- Follow Jobert’s author journeys on LinkedIn.
Key Quotes:
When it comes to setting goals, you want them to be SMART; it’s an acronym that many may be familiar with. You want your goals to be sustainable, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. The more your goals adhere to this model, the more likely you are to meet them, if not succeed in them. — Jobert E. Abueva
Look to the past. Understand what the lessons are before you look to the future. — Jobert E. Abueva
Many countries and cultures share the same mindset or anticipation of the new year, but before you enter the new year, there is a lot to be said for reflection and understanding what the past has taught us. That’s really what Janus, the Roman god, is all about: beginnings and endings, past and future, looking to the past for those lessons and looking to the future with energy, enthusiasm, and goals that will last. — Jobert E. Abueva
It’s really critical that once we set goals at the beginning of the year, the month, the week, the day, that we have checkpoints along the way to just see if we’re still on track. If we’re not, why might that be? Take a reset, a step back, and don’t be afraid to pivot to adjust your direction to reach your final goal, because conditions change. — Jobert E. Abueva
It’s really critical to have that broader perspective and to get out of your head. That’s what The Janus Plan has offered me: the perspective that there is more to life, my day, and my week than what I got myself so caught up in. — Jobert E. Abueva
I use the imagery of weaving and tapestries. Each year is a tapestry. Once it’s done, hang it up and admire it, all its imperfections, all the beautiful threads in it, because that’s life. Life has the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let’s really appreciate and understand it before we move into the next year with whatever goals, themes, and milestones we want to accomplish. So, if anything, live in understanding your past before you step into the future. — Jobert E. Abueva
Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and learn about upcoming book launches.
Consider joining Team Buzz Builder, our book review team that supports most of our client launches. When you sign up for a launch, you’ll receive a complimentary copy (digital or print) in exchange for your commitment to post an early review.
