Well it is that time of year again when we all take a second and reflect on the year closing, and look forward to the year upcoming.

Of course with this comes thoughts of your new resolutions for 2009 and the ones you didn’t keep for 2008.(if you are like me)

Although I must say 2008 was a very good year for me professionally. Although I didn’t stick specifically to any ‘resolution’, I subconciousely did achieve the final objective.

I tend to base my professional goals around a monetary objective, so as to have a specific metric to base progress on. I was pretty close to my mark, even though I really didn’t take any specific path. I set out 2008 wanting to increase my income via online avenues to $x,xxx a month which I have consistantly done since May. I also set out to increase my own business (web services locally) by 35%. I actually surpased that and increased it by about 46%(based off of preliminary numbers so far).

I also have been working part time with an electrician, and going into 2009 I am actually going to be a full partner in the business. This was an unexpected, but welcome adjustment to my goals, as I did not forsee this coming.

Now, as I look forward to 2009 I am faced with sitting down and spending time writing down new goals. As usual, I probably will not keep most of them on the personal side (like actually going to the doctor for a physical since I have not been in 5 years), but when it comes to the professional side I find it a great exercise.

Although I may not actually follow any specific footprint, I find that by actually verbalizing a goal or resolution that somehow throughout the year I do tend to migrate in that direction.

I know it may seem silly to make any kind of resolution, but you owe it to yourself to at least visualize where you realistically want to be 12 months from now. Visualize it, document it and look at it occasionally throughout the year. Just doing this alone might help prod you towards your goals. I myself would rather come up short of my goals than to not have even tried.

My worst fear is that 12 months from now I am no different than I am today. We all have hopes and dreams and if you are not constantly trying to better yourself in every aspect, then you are not doing yourself justice. You are cheating yourself out of those dreams, and considering every one of us has the potential to live out our dreams, not striving towards them seems almost like a waste.

So as you celebrate the holidays try and do 2 things. One, look back on where you were 12 months ago and determine whether you are in a better place, and second, spend a few minutes jotting down where you would like to see yourself 12 months from NOW.

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