I wanted to take a few minutes to remind you that the month is also coming to a close soon and convince you to take some time during this holiday season to reflect on 2012.

1. Prepare for reflection

When reflecting try to look at the events without judging or without emotion.

2. Reflect on your year

Pat yourself on the back for all your hard work and for the growth you have seen. Write down what didn’t work for you this year, and also document ideas where you feel you could apply yourself differently.

3. Gratitude

Take the time to thank all those who have helped you this year. They may be employees, family, or friends. We all love to be recognized for our efforts and contributions.

4. Clients

Find ways to thank your clients, for choosing you to do business with. This is something that should be done all the time, so make sure this is part of you 2013 plan.

5. Goals

Did you have goals last year – and did you meet or exceed them?

Regardless of what happened last year, this year make some goals. Don’t be afraid to make financial goals, in fact it is important to your success to project where you are going. Make sure to write into this plan some check in points. By creating several check in points you will have the ability to adjust what you are doing in case you are straying from the path to successfully attaining your goals.

6. Plan your Year

Now that you have looked into your past and you have seen what works and where you would like to make adjustments, and you have your goals written down you are ready to plan your year.

Planning

There are many things to plan, and if you take the time between now and New Years to do this you will be ready to take on the year before many of your competitors and that will give you the start many of you are looking for.

1. How many business events do you want to attend?
2. How many books, or products will you be launching?
3. What is your marketing strategy?
4. Where will you be spending your marketing time and money?
5. Who are your vendors and are they still serving you?
6. Do you have vendors that overlap services? Make sure you aren’t paying twice for the same service.
7. Do you need to replace or add to the office equipment that you currently use? When will you need that during the year?

You may have other things you need to add to this list, but this will give you a good start. Now with all this planning you will need to have a place to keep it all together and make sure it is where you will look at it several times a day/week. The key to successfully accomplishing your goals is not to set them and forget about them. You will need to set, view and adjust over and over again throughout the year.

Each time there is an opportunity that crosses your desk in the new year make sure to check it with your plans, does it fit your goals? This will help you to stay within your plan and also keep you from spending money unnecessarily, and taking your focus away from what is most important to drive your business forward.

Now take a deep breath and congratulate yourself on a years worth of trials, tribulations and growth. put your past where it belongs (behind you) and start each new day looking forward. There is nothing you can do about the last year of your life or of the last moment for that matter. Promise yourself that you will not waste any of your energy worried about what is already done. Look forward and make each new moment count by putting all of your energy and focus into making it shine. I look forward to hearing about all your plans for 2013!