We tend to be a more reflective mood at this time of the year so you might find the following exercise timely – by the way, it only works …… and it works the more you do it! 2014 could be ‘your best year ever’ – a little Reflection and Intention might ensure it is your best year ever by design rather than by accident. 1. 2013 Reflection… As you’ll know, reflection is one of the most powerful things you can do in the interest of self development and learning – so set aside a quiet hour with a pen and paper and try the following: But before you start, this exercise has every chance of failure if you don’t commit to writing and engage emotionally as well as intellectually………. Take a note of all the successes you had in 2013. Write the successes down and accrue them to yourself like ‘chips on your side of the poker table’. The more successes on your side of the table, the more you are likely to take the risks associated with engaging in the ‘game of life’ that is 2014 to get what you want. Notice what you define as a success – this is not a time for modesty nor do successes need to be huge publicly recognisable successes. So long as they are meaningful to you that’s all that matters. Take a note of the ‘meaning’ those successes have for you. Take a note of what you learned during the year. Doing this ensures you are growing, developing, changing and ultimately getting more of what you want, and less of what you don’t want, from your business and life. List the priorities by which you actually lived 2013. In other words, if there was a summary documentary of your life in 2013, what would that documentary show as the priorities you lived your life by – not necessarily the priorities you should or could have lived by? The priorities must be listed 1, 2, 3, … 2. The History made in 2014… List the priorities by which you will live 2014. Write down the history of 2014. On the basis that you can only be attracted to a thought, write down, on a page or two, how your business and life is on the 31st December 2014. Often called a ‘meta-view’ and also widely used by professional athletes – the golden rule here is to write it in the present tense (I am, I have, etc) and be as specific as you can in terms of hard details (i.e. facts) and soft details (i.e. how you feel). In simple terms, imagine being asked at the end of 2014 “so how was 2014 for you and/or your business?”. Put these few pages in an envelope, only share with those you trust, and even if you never refer to it during the year, watch what will happen. Create an image board of any images you can find that represent what your 2014 will be. This ensures that you are staying focused on what you expect to happen and stops unhelpful images populating your thoughts. Action is Character! – Now that you’ve taken this action you have probably made one of your best investments for 2014 – now just ‘be present’ and take action. Have a great 2014! Dave