The following article was published in the Northern Nevada Business Weekly December 12, 2005.

The Gift of the Year: Reflection
Take some time during the busy holiday season to think about the success,
lessons of this year
by Dr. Joelle Jay

Hustle and bustle, frenzy, and a flurry of activity! This time of year is so full of commotion. For business people, parties, shopping, and gift-giving all get heaped atop last-minute cramming: projects that need to be finished, sales goals that need to be met, and the closing of the books for the year.

But December is significant for another reason: it’s the end of an era. A whole year is over, and with it an important stage in your business. With all the goings-on of the season, it’s easy to miss it. This December, when the deadlines have been met and life is finally quiet, give yourself and your business one last gift: a moment for reflection.

Reflecting on the past year in your business (as in your life) gives you the rare gift of perspective. Stepping back to look at the bigger picture gives you clarity. It reconnects you to your purpose for being in business in the first place. It reminds you of your goals and helps you see whether you’re on path to meet them. Best of all, it rewards you with a sense of accomplishment. You’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come – motivating you to jump into a new year with increased vitality and enthusiasm.

Reflecting on your business shouldn’t be a chore. On the contrary, the process can be a relaxing, enjoyable experience. So get yourself a cuppa, close the door, and use the following questions to indulge yourself in some quiet contemplation.

1. What accomplishments, breakthroughs, successes, and joys did you experience this year?

Get in the spirit of the holidays and allow yourself some personal celebration! Did you meet a significant sales goal or finally clean out your files? Maybe you hired a stellar director or took a risk. Acknowledge the individual and collective strides taken in your business. See your progress. Celebrate your achievements.

• What disappointments, failures, challenges or mistakes did this year bring?

We often fall to one of two extremes when it comes to the dark side of life – fixating or ignoring it altogether. By facing negativity squarely, you disempower its ability to hold you back. Admit your true feelings about the disappointments: fear, shame, or discouragement. Then realize that failures and challenges help create the whole of life. The crest of the wave only rises from the trough. Accepting this is a chance to acknowledge this part of life, then release it and leave it behind.

3. What have you learned about yourself and your life? What insights have you gained?

True insights can be transformative. Glean the learning from this year. Look for the life lessons. What are the trends you are seeing in your life and business? What do they tell you? What do you know now that you didn’t know this time last year? How have you become a better businessperson? What major events have you lived through, and what did they have to teach you? Use this time to clarify and deepen these new understandings so that they inform who you are and what you do.

4. What do you appreciate about yourself, your opportunities, your life, your lifestyle and other people?

The shortest route to attracting what you want in life is to appreciate what you already have. Whatever you appreciate, you increase in life. Have you broken even this year, or better? Have you kept your job, met a goal or two, enjoyed good health or spent time with your family? How have the people surrounding you at work and at home enhanced your life? See how many things you can find to be grateful for. Notice how your outlook shifts as you spend time appreciating these and other aspects of your life.

5. What are you taking with you this year? What are you leaving behind?

As you complete your reflection, know that you have the opportunity to move on to new things as the old year ends and a new one begins. There may be things you want to leave behind in this old year – things like outdated beliefs, major challenges, and disappointing turns of events. You’ve experienced them throughout the year, you’ve acknowledged them in your reflection, you’ve learned from them, and now you can let them go. Take the time to do this so you can move on. Then take a moment to embrace the parts of this year that you want to carry with you into the future: lessons learned, relationships forged, goals and dreams.

Dr. Joelle Jay is a leadership coach and professional speaker specializing in leadership and personal effectiveness, and the president of Pillar Consulting, LLC. She can be reached at Joelle@pillar-consulting.com

Reprinted with permission from Northern Nevada Business Weekly December 12, 2005.