Goodness me, unbelievable it is but nevertheless… 2011 is upon us all and I can’t begin to describe the last minute rush trying to finish off some of the things I set out to accomplish in 2010! I have heard that for the majority of us December can be one of the most productive of times – up to 25% productivity rise!

Professionally, in spite of not growing as much as I wanted to, I feel I did add value to the people I came across. Perhaps I did not sell and ship as many materials as I wished to but I still feel that the ones that reached the hands of my costumers and friends did encourage and hopefully inspire them.

Although my company’s year end does not correspond with the running calendar, I do tend to judge my business progress by December. Without a doubt the last few months of the year are by far the busiest retailing months and perhaps that’s why the judging. However, much more than judging our businesses progress, our career improvement, the amount of money we managed to accumulate or the gifts we gave away this year, here’s something that should be the prime concern of us all – How much value have I added to others?

I picked up a copy of Dr Stephen R. Covey’s book this weekend and something he said nagged me all weekend: “What were your contributions this year?” Now, here’s where I wish I could turn the clock back and readjust some of my decisions, deliberately take things slower and in doing so add more value to others with just some more rationalisation.

I didn’t travel much this year as I deliberately slowed down in 2010 and was able to really reconnect with what’s really important. I had a great year with my wife and daughter and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

There were some other things too that I wish I had made more time to do, but again I can’t turn back time, so, in 2011 there are some resolutions I am going to make stick. I have never been too keen on ‘new year’s resolutions‘ as I believe that if you want to do something you just go for it, whether it be December or September.

I think that “loose” new year’s resolutions are always the biggest mistake. If you are serious about your new years resolutions here are four strategies that you will most certainly need to employ:

1) Keep it Simple! Just go after a few items at time.

2) Be Smart! – Specific « Measurable «  Actionable « Realistic « Time-Bound

3) Write it all down! Record your resolutions and keep it visible at all times!

4) Keep short Accounts! At the top of your list you should have an ‘Accountability tab’. It’s harder to grow in some areas when you don’t share your struggles and we all need a bit of encouragement now and then, so don’t keep it to yourself but share it with a friend!

Here are a few of my personal resolutions for the new year:

• Quality, quality, quality time with my mum in the UK ( I left home when I was 12, so only spent a short time with her since then).
• Read the remaining 18 books of the Christian Heroes Series by December 2011.
• Write at least 104 posts on my personal blog by December 2011 (2 posts per week).
• Schedule a ‘date night’ with my wife every week day.
• Mentor at least 2 more young people from church this year.
• Read the whole of the New Testament by December 2011.

What about you? Are you making any new year’s resolutions?