This issue is made up of the following sections:

1. Personal Effectiveness Tips
2. Questions for Growth
3. Reality Check - Laughing at Yourself

1. Personal Effectiveness Tips
1. Life is unfair. Don't expect it to be otherwise. As one of my mentors always notes, the key to overcoming the inevitable “punch to the gut” that reality brings is to diversify your life. Don't have too much riding on any one sales account, don't have all your investments in one stock or mutual fund, and don't count on any one source of revenue to sustain you indefinitely. By doing so, you'll adjust more quickly to life's little surprises.

2. If you are setting New Year's Resolutions, start by setting resolutions for the month of January. Too often we set goals for our year, only to see them crumble under the resolve of a hectic schedule. Set some simple, powerful goals for this month that will give you momentum headed into February.

3. Plan your vacations NOW for the entire 2006 year. Choose three or four vacations, and get them on your schedule. It doesn't matter if your definition of vacation means a weekend trip to a bed-and-breakfast or a two week jaunt to Europe-put them on the schedule first. You'll build excitement into your life knowing that you have prioritized your mental health above all else. Remember, vacations are really just opportunities to gain perspective, which is always a good thing.

Back to top

2. Questions for Growth
1. What proportion of last year's goals did you complete? (Anything around 50% is great work on your part!)

2. What percentage of your time do you spend worrying, fretting, being fearful of what others think?

Back to top

3. Reality Check - Laughing at Yourself

I'm constantly amazed at some of the “dumb” things I do on a daily basis. For instance, I can readily recall:

• telling a pleasant and amiable female client that part of my job responsibilities in working with her included regular kicks in the rear, though in her case I would need bigger shoes. (Don't ask, I have no idea why that came out of my mouth)
• spending an entire day seeing personal clients with a fully gaping pants zipper and hours-old mustard on my face
• talking to a client, who was admiring the manner in which I had recently decorated my office. As we were leaving, she remarked, “I like your clock!” when she noticed that my new clock accented both the carpet and the chairs in the room. “Thanks, I like yours, too!” I said, realizing quickly how confusing that must have been for her.

Are these examples the sorts of things that happen to me on a daily basis? Yes. Do they horrify me? No, at least not five minutes after the fact. Why? Because I have come to terms with the fact that I am a human, and no matter how polished or educated I become, I make mistakes. My intent is not to screw up, my intent is to do the best I can despite my propensity to screw up.

Lighten up this year, and invest the time that you would normally spend worrying about what others think in taking positive steps towards greater personal fulfillment. If you can finally let go of your need to be perfect at all times to all people, you will find yourself enjoying a more satisfying and stress-free life.

Back to top