The first couple of weeks of January are usually a fairly laid-back affair in New Zealand. As a population, we tend to 'get away' after the hustle and bustle of Christmas. We camp, we get out on the water, we hike, we read, and we share each other's company over food and drink. Corporate offices and factories are usually fairly quiet, with skeletal staff keeping things ticking over until things get underway again, usually in the second or third week or the year.

One of my habits during the summer break is to think about the year ahead, to get a sense of where my priorities should lie. When I get back to my desk (6 January this year), I write my ideas down, make some choices and load important dates and deadlines into my diary.

This year the decision process was easy: my doctorate is the priority. Here's a snapshot of how my year is shaping up at this stage:
  • January: write methodology chapter for thesis; quick personal visit to Sydney
  • February: write paper for British Academy of Management conference; continue boardroom observations; finalise methodology chapter
  • March: speak at International Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance (Babson, Mass); continue boardroom observations; commence analysis of data
  • April: update literature review chapter; continue boardroom observations; continue data analysis
  • May: final boardroom observation; continue data analysis
  • June: continue data analysis; second round CEO & Chair interviews; finalise literature review chapter
  • July: complete data analysis; write paper for European Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance; short winter break
  • August: thesis writing in earnest; think about conclusions
  • September: speak at British Academy of Management (Belfast, Northern Ireland); thesis writing; assemble first substantive draft of thesis
  • October: finalise first substantive draft for review by supervisors 
  • November: update thesis based on feedback from supervisors; speak at European Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance (Zagreb, Croatia)
  • December: complete final draft of thesis; submit thesis! 

What does 2014 hold for you?