How to make 2010 your best year ever

BUSINESS BITS
Aileen Santos

Get insights on what will bring you greater business success in 2010. As John Foster Dulles said, "The measure of success isn't whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it's the same problem you had last year."

Every person still breathing has problems, and will continue to encounter problems for the rest of his or her life. As an entrepreneur, you have chosen to do something different with your life: you've chosen to deal with more meaningful problems. In short, your problems are the kind that--once you solve them--will positively impact not just your life, but the lives of your clients, investors, and employees.

But, to paraphrase Dulles' quote: if the problems that come up in your life and your business this year are the exact same ones you encountered in 2008, then it means you haven't been able to learn from them as much as you could.

You can choose to make 2010 your best year ever by taking at least 45 minutes from your day right now to really think about your answers to the following questions.

Warning: These questions sound very simple, but do not underestimate them. If you use these questions seriously and really think about (and document!) your answers to them, they will help you unlock unique insights that will bring you greater personal and business success this 2010.
Are you ready? Here are your "2010 Planning Questions" now: What are the three most important successes you've had in 2009? They could be personal successes like developing a healthier body and lifestyle, or business successes like hiring the perfect team that truly believes in your mission and vision.

Write down your top three successes. As you remember them (and bask in the feelings of euphoria and satisfaction that they bring) you will want to learn two things from each one:
What do these successes say about the things that are truly important in your life What elements do these successful accomplishments have in common (for instance, things you did, style of working, people you worked with, attitude you adopted)? How can you apply them to future goals?

What are your three biggest "failures" in 2009? Again, these could be personal or professional "failures." The point of this question is not to make you feel bad or guilty. Instead, this question reminds you that the best lessons we learn come from our failures. We may as well mine these failures for as many important lessons as we can get! Problems are a mountain of treasure. Not everyone can invent... but everyone can improve.

After writing down these valuable experiences, ask yourself three things about each one: What are the factors or elements common to these failures? Your answers will reveal surprising things: maybe you will realize that a project which got you really excited once was apparently something that didn?t support your personal values. Or maybe that a person who works well with you in certain aspects of your business isn?t really cut out for other aspects. Or maybe that your style of working in one project is not really a match for making another kind of project work. Think about this!

Based on these common elements or factors that you discovered, what are the things you realize you need to change, minimize, or let go of? Finally, how can you apply these insights to more effectively plan for your next quarter and your next year?

Thomas Edison once said: "If we did all the things that we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves." It is my hope that you astound yourself this 2010!

(Aileen Santos is conducting the "Make It Happen In 2010!" workshop on January 2, 2010 at The Mango Farm. If you're ready to start REALLY going after your most amazing goals and dreams, then this Personal Life Inventory & Planning Session is for you! Send an SMS now to 0919-6046967 or visit http://LifeAcademy.Multiply.Com for more details).