Celebrate the Past before Pushing Ahead
Sherry Borsheim

Where did the year go? It seems like it was only yesterday that I opened a crisp new day-planner and started 2004. Now we are rounding the corner into 2005!

If you are anything like me, chances are you started this past year with a number of new resolutions or goals. Perhaps you wanted to increase your earnings by a significant percentage, achieve better work/life balance or improve productivity. If you did set specific goals for yourself, now is the perfect time to review them, your progress towards success and any modifications that might need to be made to those goals.

For example, one goal I set for myself for 2004 was to write a book that would help people organize their office space. As the year winds to a close, I am exited to be able to check that ambition off my list. My first e-book is currently available at www.conqueryourchaos.com and is in the process of being printed.

Now although I have achieved this goal I am far from finished with it. As 2005 rolls around, I’m focusing on other objectives in connection with the workbook; such as how many copies I'd like to sell. Suddenly I've gone from creation to marketing and have a whole new set of aspirations for the New Year.

This is also the time to review the process of achieving my debut book. What did I like and dislike about the writing, editing and design process? What would I do differently next time? What did I do that was outstanding? While I give myself a pat on the back, I also want to plan to do even better the next time around.

Take a moment to think about the goals you set out for yourself in 2004. Did you accomplish what you set out to do? If not, what stopped you? How can you revise that goal or your approach to achieving it in 2005? What will you have to do to make 2005 the year it happens?

For every goal realized, give yourself a pat on the back! You did a great job and deserve to enjoy the sweet taste of victory. Once you have sufficiently congratulated yourself, take a moment to review the process. What did you like? What did you dislike? What would you do differently? What did you do that was outstanding? Is the task fully completed? Perhaps you are facing a similar situation that I am with the creation of my book. The first part is done, but now it’s time to move on to marketing and creating goals and expectations surrounding the sale of the book.

As you get ready to open a crisp new calendar for the New Year, take some time to reflect on the success of the past year and to celebrate your accomplishments. Then pull out your pen and create a list of new goals. Let's move upward and onward and embrace all that the New Year has to bring while celebrating our past achievements.

Here's to a successful and profitable 2005!


About the Author

Sherry Borsheim, owner of Simply Productive, has been helping people to work smarter, not harder for years. She specializes in resolving paper, time and information management issues. To learn more about eliminating the paper pile-up and in vastly improving your productively, contact Simply Productive at 604-233-7076.