Settle in with a cup of cocoa, eggnog or warm cider, grab your 2007 daily planner or PDA, a blank notepad and a clear head. Review your calendar, going day-by-day, starting back on last New Year's Eve, and take note of:

1) Successes -- So often, we tend to dwell on the mistakes we made or the times we let things fall through the cracks. There are rarely medals or trophies for the small victories of life, but these are sometimes the sweetest.

Each time you find one of these successes, write it down, and keep the list handy. Go into the new year emboldened by the the strides you took in the past year, and build on these triumphs.

2) Surprises -- Every January 1st, we (should) start the year by planning for all the events (in person and online) we can anticipate.

But there are also unexpected events that can present new opportunities. Did a charitable organization call you at the last minute to fill in for a speaker at an annual event or to provide a gift certificate for a silent auction?

Get the jump on guiding these "disorganized" groups and approach them to secure speaking or promotional opportunities when they're still in the planning stages. Be an early bird and use last year's surprises to build on the coming year's successes?

3) Opportunities -- Did you note that a local newspaper kept printing AP or Reuters news wire service articles about your profession instead of contacting you for a local interview? Does a poster on one of the networking groups where you lurk casually offer up posts on a subject for which you have greater expertise, but you neglect to post? Do you make notes on your to-do lists or calendar pages to act, but never follow through?

Get inspired. Be motivated. Use these unexpected happenings to guide your planning for the new year to share your expertise. Develop a genuine relationship with your newspapers' editors and reporters and actively post on the networking groups you frequent. Schedule days each quarter to send press releases and network with local media; schedule time each day/week for active online networking.

4) Recurring Events -- Did you keep missing recurring teleclasses or monthly in-person meetings because you somehow found yourself otherwise booked by the time the activity rolls around?

Review your calendar for last year's conferences, Chamber of Commerce meetings, client sessions, annual expos and trade shows, industry-specific events, etc. and find out the dates or pattern (e.g., third Thursday).

Schedule fixed recurring activities for the whole year; you'll be far less likely to have conflicts if your schedule is blocked off. (Don't forget to schedule payment deadlines for quarterly taxes and loans -- you'll have fewer financial surprises if they're marked in your schedule.)

5) Rekindled Connections -- Every year, prospects cancel their first appointments and continuing clients fail to schedule (or reschedule) follow-ups.

Review your calendar for clients who simply wandered away, and use the new year as a pretext to get back in touch via newsletter, email or phone call. Let these lost souls know you're still eager to do business with them, and share the details of anything novel or exciting going on in your business that can benefit them.

Before you (literally) close the book on 2007, review the experiences you've had to see what opportunities may lie ahead.

Enjoy and celebrate!

--
Julie Bestry, Certified Professional Organizer®
Best Results Organizing
"Don't apologize. Organize!"
organize@juliebestry.com
Visit http://www.juliebestry.com to save time and money, reduce stress and increase your productivity

Private Reply to Julie Bestry (new win)