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.

Getting ahead of falling behind

This time of year I spend on business planning.  What worked this year and what didn’t?  What was missing?  Where will I spend my time next year?  Where will I make my money?  What projects do I want to take on?  What excites me about 2011?

This starts with sitting on the floor and taking out every file in my file cabinet and cleaning it out.  If I haven’t looked at it and don’t need it, it gets tossed.  If should be scanned and filed, it is.  The most useful items are put at my fingertips.  I go through my electronic files and make a file that says “2010” and I will put all 2010 documents there.  That folder will live in a folder called “Historical”.  If I really need it, I can find it.  (I rarely need it.  It’s just too easy to save electronic stuff.)  I put on music, sing, and purge.  I love making room for the new.

I’m often asked how I manage to do so much with so much clarity, confidence and focus.  Where do I get the time?  How do I remember it all?   This annual ritual of coming casual to the office, sitting on the floor, and sitting quietly through my thoughts is what makes that happen.  I know where I’m going to spend my time, I know what has priority for me, I know where my information lives.  When a request or a question comes across my desk, I know how to think about it, I know whether to say yes or no, I know where to go to get the answer.  It’s not so much about orderliness as it is about efficiencies.  I want room in my life to do what I want.  (Searching for things isn’t one of them.  However it is snowing, and I’m ready to ski.)

If you’re lucky enough to be in a business that’s quiet during the holidays, take the quiet time to clean out the old and make room for the new.  I wish you great productivity, insight, creativity, and excitement for a new year coming.