As we start this new year, it's the perfect time for reflection and planning. This month's newsletter will help you do both. You can use the process that follows for your personal life or to wrap up/plan your business for this year.

First, let's do some reflection. Before you jump into new goals and resolutions, some positive reinforcement could sure help get you going. So, what I'd like you to do before setting any new goals is to list your accomplishments from last year. Look beyond what you got done and also consider how you've grown as a person. This is an exercise to celebrate all you did right last year.

Some questions to get you thinking:

• What are you most proud of from last year?
• What character qualities did you strengthen? Are you more honest, giving, communicative, sensitive, proactive, etc.?
• How have you helped others? Did you help a friend, family member? Did you volunteer? Coach a team? Donate time, goods or services?
• What special memories did you create? Did you organize or attend a memorable event, vacation or just have a great time doing something? What time(s) will you always remember?
• What goals have you achieved or started? Did you start or finish a project, a new hobby, a significant project at work, a new book, etc.

Your answers will focus you on the positive aspects of the past year. Dwelling on what didn't happen won't energize you for 2002! Focus on what worked and you will be poised for great things this new year.

Now let's do some planning. Business planning used to be my life. I've condensed a few basic techniques I've learned over the years for you. Feel free to put as much detail or as little as you need into your plan.

Once you've completed the reflection exercise, and I'd advise you take a good week to really create a significant list of at least 20 things, think about what you'd like to accomplish this year. Use your list of 20 as a starting set of ideas for this year.

Who would you like to be and what will you accomplish by January 2003? What do you need to do to be "successful" this year?

Post-It Notes work great for brainstorming your ideas. They allow you to rearrange, categorize or timeline them. Brainstorming implies unrestricted thinking, meaning just let the ideas flow. You can edit all you want later. Write one idea on each sticky.

After brainstorming, you need to turn your ideas into REAL goals. A REAL goal has 3 parts:

1. It's specific, not vague.
2. It has a timeframe or deadline (like every week or by March 16th).
3. It's measurable - you can tell when it's been reached…you will know…it will be observable.

For example, say you have a "goal" to see your friends more often. As it is, that is not a goal. A REAL goal would be to visit with friends at least once a week throughout this year. If you want to be more specific, you could list the friends that you want to see.

Once you have your list of real goals, give yourself a BIG pat on the back. If you like, you even can stop planning right here! Something magical now happens. The simple act of writing your goals has embedded your list into your subconscious and you will now be more sensitive to opportunities that present themselves that relate to your goals. It's automatic!

To continue fleshing out your plan, you'll want to put your goals on a timeline according to the month each will be completed. (Use a piece of paper for each month as your timeline, or just draw twelve month blocks on a page) For example, if your goal is to lose 10 pounds by April 30th, put the Post-It note for that goal in the April block. For weekly/daily goals, make 12 Post-It notes, so that you can put one note in each month of the year.

Now, for each goal, back up one month at a time from the due date to now and plan the monthly goals that need to happen to reach your final goal by the due date. It's much easier to plan backwards than to project forward from today. It also provides a way to check to see if your due date is realistic. Finally, fill in what needs to happen each week of this month (January), to fulfill each January goal. Now you have an overall schedule for the year and a to-do list for January.

Each month, review your goal list for that month and backtrack to plan the steps needed for each week to meet each goal. Use this process throughout the year. Congratulations! You've just created a plan for 2002!

THIS MONTH'S ACTION STEPS

• Reflect on 2001 and create a list of at least 20 things that you are most proud of accomplishing
• Brainstorm your goals for this year. Turn them into REAL goals and create a timeline for 2002.
• Celebrate your accomplishments from last year and for coming up with a doable plan for this one!
  

Have a reflective and organized January. Happy New Year and thank you for being a part of my community for the last year.

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