An exciting vision for the future that connects your passions, your unique talents and has a clarity of purpose is the foundation of planning an awesome year. The creation of your strategies, goals and action steps provide the framework to determine your daily, weekly and monthly priorities. But don't stop here!

My two favorite philosophers lend us these thoughts:

"The number one premise of business is that it need not be boring or dull. It ought to be fun. If it's not fun, you're wasting your life." - Tom Peters

"Fun is about as good a habit as there is." - Jimmy Buffett

Top Ten Ways To Enjoy the Journey

1. Simplify & Declutter

Do you have "stuff" in your life you don't need? Stuff that takes energy to take care of? Stuff that is using up space, leaving little for the new? Let go of the things in your life are draining energy. Throw out 100 things! Give away 100 more. Make space, physically and mentally. Are your file cabinets so full you have no room for any new business? Create physical space and the vacuum will attract NEW business. Stop tolerating. Forgive. Let go of associations that that no longer fit who you've become. Start the new century with a Clean Sweep! Use this CoachU Assessment, to get 4 areas of your life hasslefree!

2. Become More Focused and Centered

According to Chin-Ning Chu in her book, Work Less, Do More, both Harvard Business School and the leading European business school, INSEAD, have concluded from research that the two most effective new business tools for twenty-first century executives are meditation and intuition. Meditation, the science of internal access, allows you to discover wisdom and information you didn't know you had."

Fifteen minutes of daily meditation, or simply quiet time, can give you back and effectiveness and peacefulness that allow you to get more done in less time. You will find yourself taking better actions and not running in circles or worrying about things you can't do anything about.

3. Take More Vacations and Rejuvenation Breaks

Time management gurus say the most productive day of the year is the one right before you leave for vacation. So - to be more productive, take more vacations!

Actually two separate dynamics are really applicable here that apply to being effective every day:

• The pending vacation forces you to focus and prioritize and just take action
• The rejuvenation you get from taking time off increases your mental clarity and ability to be more effective

4. Treat Your Plan Like A Work In Progress

The biggest mistake you can make is to create your plan and then not check in to see if you need to make course adjustments through the year. Re-evaluate and revise regularly. Remember the Apollo moon mission was off track most of its journey but landed on the moon within 15 feet of its target because it adjusted course continually during the entire flight. Re-evaluate monthly and make the necessary course adjustments. Do leave some reserve for unexpected or new opportunities.

5. Notice When the Universe Redirecting Your Course!

The chance to grow often shows up as a crisis or problem. Ask yourself what can I learn from this? What can I do next time that will avoid this? What opportunity is now available to me? Marsha Sinetar, who wrote Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow said " Life's ups and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine...(your) values and goals... Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want."

Resolve to give up struggle and go with the flow this year.

There is a story about a young man who sought out a Zen master because of his dissatisfaction with his life. He said that he had consulted one expert after another without success: "One person told me to give up sex and I did, but I still suffered. Another told me to give up meat and I did, but I still suffered. Another told me to give up sweets and I did, but I still suffered. I have tried everything that has been suggested, without success. You are my only hope. Please help me." The Zen master replied, "Give up suffering."

6. Create a Habit of Noticing the Abundance!

There IS plenty..

• Plenty of nice people to work with
• Plenty of listings
• Plenty of time
• Plenty buyers
• Plenty of opportunities to re-invent your business at the next level!

What you focus on EXPANDS: By thinking and speaking about what you DON'T have, that is what you get. Your sub-conscious wants to make you RIGHT! So, shift your focus, thinking and speaking to you DO have, what IS working, and what you HAVE done, not on the lack of money, time, etc.

7. Live Large

Play a bigger game (what would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?) and make it fun. Helen Rowland reminds us, "The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity." Try some outrageous ideas. Some will work, some won't. Notice where you limit what you see yourself capable of. Stretch that vision and have fun experimenting.

8. Hang Out With More People Who Expect the Best in You

Raise your standards this year. Hang around people who have great attitudes. Increase the number resource people in your life by consciously adding to your sphere of influence strategic partners who are interested in the same market you are. Invite the movers and shakers to play with you! Refer lots of business to others. People like to do business with people they know, and with people who do business with them. Your business will increase if you think each day of who you could GIVE business to.

9. Focus on Growing YourSELF

The business will then take care of itself.

Next year this time, what skills, knowledge or growth will you have learned or accomplished personally? Life-long learning is a necessity, not a luxury. Find and do one thing every day that you don't know how to do! Or make a very long list of what you want do/have/be in this lifetime (maybe 100 or so) and look at the list everyday.

Practice EXTREME selfcare so you have the energy to serve others.

10. Focus on People, not Things

Our relationships are the gems that life gives us to brighten and sparkle each day. Ask yourself how can the relationships be nurtured and strengthened. Enjoy each day and the people around you. Forgive their foibles, weaknesses and shortcomings and know that everyone, at all times, is doing the best that they can, given what they see. Try to see it from their vantage to understand why they react the way they do. Tune into the synchronicity of life and know each person is in your life for a reason and they have a gift for you. Discover and enjoy the gifts. Accept that it may not look the way you planned it!

The coming year will, undoubtedly, bring joys and sorrows, goals attained and challenges to overcome. By enjoying the journey along the way and enjoying your SELF, you can make 2000 the best year ever!

Published: December 30, 1999

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Joeann Fossland GRI, LTG, MCC is a dynamic speaker and business coach. Creator of THE REAL ESTATE GAMETM, she provides coaching solutions enhance your effectiveness and life balance. You can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter, attend free monthly telephone seminars, and find out about classes delivered by email and personal coaching by visiting JoeAnn.com or e-mail her at .