I keep hearing that song on the Radio by John Lennon, “So this is Christmas” In the first line he pointedly asks us “What have you done? Another year over and a new one just begun”

The timing of this song is an excellent reminder to take inventory of the past 12 months, so we can assess where we are, and more importantly where we are going?

This simple process of reliving all that we have done and celebrating how far we’ve all come since last January can be both rewarding and enlightening.

Look, if we don’t take the time to celebrate what we have accomplished, learn lessons from our setbacks, and apply the strategy, then we are bound to repeat the same mistakes we’ve made in the past.

I heard it said the success leaves clues, and I don’t believe that achieving at a high level should be accidental. Being intentional, living by design and on purpose in business and in life starts with assessing where you’ve been, where you are, and where you plan on going.

I realize that many of you out there are frantically banging on your smart-phones, pounding out those e-mails, squeezing every last minute of work into these remaining workdays of the year. I’m sure most of you feel you are much too busy to give yourself that deserved pat on the back. But let me ask you another question:

If you don’t celebrate your success, then who will? By the way, your teams and those people in your life that you care about the most, well they will do what you do, not what you say. So what message are you conveying to them if you aren’t willing to take the time to appreciate all that you have done this past year.

There is always more to do, another email, text, meeting request, invoice to process, order to complete, project to finish, but before you “dot another i” take inventory of this past year.

After all this is Christmas… What have you done?

Start by answering the following:

1. What have I accomplished this past year?
2. Various setbacks I’ve had and how I responded to them.
3. Lessons learned and how they apply moving forward?
4. How relevant are the goals I didn’t accomplish moving into the New Year, and am I still committed to them?
5. What are my new goals moving into the next year?
6. What steps have I taken to set myself up for success?
7. Who in my life do I appreciate and how will I show them over the holiday season?

Cheers to all of you, and a Happy, Healthy Holiday!

Looking forward to our next conversation and 2014

Tim Furlong

Thoughts for the week:

“To make changes in your future, make new choices today” –Brian Tracy

“Whenever you say “I have a problem” what you really mean is “I have a question”; the good news is questions have answers” – Unknown

“Remember, you and you alone are responsible for maintaining your energy. Give up blaming and excuse making, and keep taking action in the direction of your goals- however lofty or mundane they may be” – Jack Canfield

“The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money” –Thomas Jefferson

“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.” – Malcolm Gladwell