NP Business™ Tip: 2010 - Start Planning Now!

Yes, another year is almost here. It's amazing how time just zips on by. While we are busy thinking about tomorrow, all too often, today just slips by us. The pre holiday season is a good time to reflect on the past months and start thinking about the new year. Ask yourself the following questions to get your mind prepared now.

1. Are you happy with your accomplishments for 2009? Did you achieve what you set out to do, in your business and your personal life? If the answer is yes -- Great! If the answer is no, take an honest look at your reasons for not reaching your goals.

   Is it that you were not clear on what is was that you wanted to accomplish? Remember, we always move toward the direction of our focus. Other reasons for not reaching your goals might be allowing yourself to get side tracked or responding to someone else's goals more so than your own.

2. What has worked well for you and what has not? What habits, behaviors and strategies have worked well for you in the current year? Which ones did not work?

   It is most beneficial to identify patterns that add value to your life and allow you to be productive. At the same time, it is equally important to recognize patterns that exert a negative force on your life. Be prepared to make the necessary changes.

3. What are your goals for the coming year? Have you identified new goals for the coming year? Or do you see the need to refocus on current, unfinished goals? Whichever it may be, state your goals with clarity, fuel them with emotion, and move towards their accomplishment.

4. How will you know that you are on track to meet those goals throughout the year? First of all, if you are not absolutely clear about your destination, it will be difficult to recognize when you have arrived! Of equal importance are milestones along the way. How else will you know that you are traveling along the right road? Establish time frames and markers that allow you to assess if you are on track or if you need to regroup along the way.

For most of us life seems busier than ever. We are juggling a multitude of responsibilities, roles, dreams and aspirations. Unless intentions are stated with clarity and focus the outcomes may not be at all what they have the potential to become!

NPBO™ Action Step:

• Answer the questions above, in writing.
• Identify any areas which you need to focus on.
• Create an action plan for each goal.
• Make sure to add benchmarks and plan to celebrate each accomplishment.