I’m not saying you shouldn’t have dreams and goals.  What I’m saying is that the chances that you’ll success in achieving those dreams and goals will increase if you don’t take action in January.  Set whatever wishes, goals, and dreams you want for 2011.  Write them down. Put them in a box somewhere where you’ll see it no sooner than February 2nd.  Then, go back to your long winter’s nap.  In February or March, open these notes up, and start sowing the seeds that will make those dreams come true this year.  In the Northern Hemisphere, in this time of the year, it is hard to grow anything.  It’s dark. It’s cold.  We just crossed over the longest night of the year (winter solstice, December 21st).

All things grow better in light and warmth.  Your resolutions do, too.  And it takes the pressure off during a season when you don’t need more.  Enjoy the nap.

1. Call your accountant if you have not already for end-of-the-year tax planning.  The possible Bush tax cuts extension is making a mess of everyone’s planning. Come join in the fun.
    
2. If you’re going to convert your IRA to a Roth IRA this year so that you can pay the taxes over two years, you need to do that now.
    
3. Get your payroll service in order.  If you have not been happy with your payroll service or are hiring someone for the first time, you need a solid payroll company.  January is the best time of the year to make a change.
    
4. Get your business planning done.  Record your accomplishments.  Let go of your “failures.”
    
5. No New Year’s Resolutions.  Remember, they don’t work in January.  Wait until at least February 2^nd.  The gym will be emptier by then anyway.

It’s the home stretch of 2010.  Enjoy!

March and April are the best months to set resolutions

We live in this world where we can get just about anything, anytime, shipped from anywhere.  Ecological issues aside, the point here is that our bodies and minds have long forgotten that NOTHING GROWS IN THE WINTER.  The focus of winter is fallowness—that is the time in which the ground is to take a break and repair itself from the fall’s harvest.  Instead what we do is throw big holiday parties and amp up the activity, physically and emotionally.  That kind of energy is counter to the energy of where we are on the Earth at that time.  We should be sleeping a lot.

If we wouldn’t put a seed in the ground in January to grow something for the year, why in the world would you expect a New Year’s resolution set on January 1st to stick?  Is it not the same thing?  Sure, there are people who are able to gut it out and make it happen.  But ask even them:  Is it not easier now that the days are longer and warmer?  This time of year is more conducive to cultivating and growing anything you wish to put in motion.

Reset your New Year’s resolution.  It might just stick.  If it has anything to do with getting your financial planning in order or taking care of your mortgage, give me a call.  I’ll make sure it does.