Make a Strong Start

As the year winds down, I find myself reflecting on the past 11+ months - the accomplishments, the lessons learned, and all the treasured moments. It’s amazing how quickly the year has flown by. It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the beginning of 2007.

It’s been a busy year at Smooth Sailing. We launched the Smooth Sailing Success website, started the Business Skills Workshops, began the Audio Success Library, and most importantly helped many, many clients reach their goals. Personally, I’ve taken up golf (I’ll be sharing more about that in future newsletters!), continued perfecting my Spanish, and was the recipient of the Thelma Gibson Award of Excellence.

It’s been an exciting, productive and wonderful year. That said, did I reach all my goals? No, I didn’t. Did I have setbacks and challenges along the way? Of course, I did. But rather than focus on what I didn’t get done, I’m looking forward to the new year with gratitude for what I did accomplish and renewed enthusiasm for the future.

I’m especially looking forward to helping you reach your most important goals. Last week during Power Lunch, my monthly teleconference where I share tips and ideas for success, we talked about ways to jumpstart the new year and set yourself up for the success you want. You can listen to Power Lunch on the Audio page of the Smooth Sailing Success website.

Why not make 2008 the year you take yourself and your business to the next level? Here are my top three tips to make a strong start for the new year:

1. Acknowledge your successes.
Have you taken time to reflect on your accomplishments for the past twelve months? We often get so busy going for the goal, focusing on the future or just plodding through the demands of the day that we lose sight of the things we are achieving. It is important to give yourself credit for all the great things that you do. What has been your biggest win for the year? What is the thing you are most proud of? Have you celebrated your success?

2. Re-evaluate your unmet goals.
Reassess your goals and figure out which ones are still relevant. In looking at your goals, are there some that need to be discarded, that are no longer of interest or no longer meaningful? Are there some that need to be reframed or broken down into smaller action steps?

3. Decide what you want.
A major reason that people don’t have what they want is because they haven’t clearly decided what they want; they haven’t defined their desires in a clear and compelling way. According to Jack Canfield, author of The Success Principles, “most people really foul up at this crucial first step because they simply can't see how it's possible to get what they want so they don't even let themselves want it.” It’s your life. You get to decide what you want.

Taking Home the "Thelma"

I'm happy and truly honored to be the recipient of the 2007 Thelma Gibson Award of Excellence. I received the "Thelma" yesterday at the Women's Chamber of Commerce award luncheon at the Westin Colonnade in Coral Gables, Florida and am very proud to be named among the other outstanding women who were finalists as well as the former recipients of this prestigious award.

The "Thelma" was begun 7 years ago by the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Miami-Dade County to recognize an individual and a corporation who have excelled in promoting leadership, excellence and business development among corporate and professional women.

The award is named in honor of the Chamber founder, Thelma Gibson, a remarkable women who had the vision to create a wonderful organization where women could support one another in building their businesses, share ideas and work together for common good. She's an amazing woman and an excellent example of what one person can do to make the world a better place.

Thelma Gibson will be 81 years young on Monday. She continues to be actively involved in the community and refers to herself as a "professional volunteer." She is truly an inspiration. Happy Birthday, Thelma!

The Power of Appreciation

One of my favorite authors and speakers, Dr. Wayne Dyer, has said, "The secret of abundance is to stop focusing on what you do not have, and shift your consciousness to an appreciation of all that you are and all that you do have."

Reading Dr. Dyer’s words caused me to think about how often we tend to focus on what is lacking in our lives. On a daily basis, we are bombarded with messages reminding of us of what is missing. From songs that drone on about lost love to advertisements that remind us that we aren’t good-looking enough, healthy enough or smart enough, the stream of lack consciousness seems never-ending.

You only have to listen to our daily chatter for a few minutes to hear the focus on lack. For example, how many times do you hear people say things like, I didn't get enough sleep, I don't have the energy, I don't have enough time, I don't have enough money, I don't have enough __________ (just fill in the blank) confidence, help, appreciation, talent, education, and on and on and on. What we focus on expands and we create more of it with our thoughts and words. If we’re not careful, we may miss the richness and goodness that we have as a result.

What could our world look like if we shifted our focus to what we have instead of what we lack? Try these tips for expressing gratitude and see what magic you create.

1. Look for the good in others. It is not always easy to find the good in another person. However, it is there if you look for it. Focusing on what is good will help you recognize the goodness that is happening around you as well as find ways to acknowledge the good in others. Ask yourself: What do I see that is good?

2. Express gratitude to others often. Say "thank you" to others at every opportunity. People never tire of hearing words of sincere appreciation. Hand-written notes are nearly a thing of the past, but are so appreciated. Take a few minutes at the end of each week to hand- write a "thank you" note to a customer, a friend, an employee or someone you appreciate. Ask yourself: Have I said "thank you" today?

3. Take time to appreciate yourself. Don't wait for others to acknowledge you. Allow yourself to reflect on your actions and accomplishments at the end of each day and truly appreciate yourself. You deserve it! You may feel uncomfortable at first. Try easing into self-appreciation by writing down 5 things you are proud of each evening before falling asleep. Ask yourself: What do I appreciate about myself today?

4. Begin the day with an attitude of gratitude. There is so much to be grateful for if you choose to focus on it. As you continue with this exercise on a daily basis, you will begin to notice that being grateful opens the possibility for increased blessing and goodness in your life. Ask yourself: What will I appreciate today?