I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions but this time of year can present an opportunity for you to stop, reflect and look forward to an even more meaningful and successful 2011. Set aside a quiet hour with a pen and paper and try the following: But before you start, this investment has every chance of failure if you don’t commit to writing and engage emotionally as well as intellectually………. Reflect on 2010 and take a note of all the successes you had. 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 2011 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. Reflect on 2010 and 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. On and page or two write how your business and life is on the 31st December 2011. The golden rule 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 2011, “so how was 2011 for you and 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 …. Now that you’ve taken this action you have probably made one of your best investments for 2011 – now just ‘be present’ and do what needs to be done next….. and here’s to a meaningful and successful 2011! Dave Gribben 30th December 2010