As hard as it is to believe, we have just a few weeks remaining in 2014. While I do wish this year wasn’t 
drawing so quickly to an end, I’m very excited for the New Year and am already looking forward to next summer — my favorite season of all.
Seasons change and so do our priorities …
Once we roll around to October, my thoughts turn to the weather and to all the things I need to accomplish between now and December 31st. I’ve started a Year End To Do List of the projects I intend to complete in the next 8 weeks.
Each of these items is going to make my life easier and position me for a much more enjoyable 2015. That inspires me to get them done and done well! Because this is such a busy time of year, I’m keeping some things in mind as I put the finishing touches on my list:
#1 I only have so much time between now and December 31 and I will schedule things accordingly. Not too much, but just the right amount!
#2 I am not taking on more than I can balance in my schedule. That means I’ll be saying “no” to some things so that I can say “yes” to others.
#3 I’m letting go of some projects, ideas and things that are not serving me and which I do not want to carry into 2015.
#4 I’m spending more time on self-care, personal projects and doing fun things with family and friends this season.
#5 Foremost, I’m keeping this important thought in mind: ”Is what I’m doing today getting me closer to where I want to be tomorrow?” I love this quote. It really helps me prioritize what I’m doing –and especially at a time when time is at a premium.
It’s amazing how putting some parameters around my Year End List uplevels it to something that is more meaningful to me. Everything on my list is going to streamline, simplify and increase the flow of energy and peace in my life. That’s the theme I want to keep in mind as I move into 2015.
What about you? What are your plans for the next 8 weeks? Do you shift into a different mode once year end starts to come into view? Are you thinking about the new year and what you want to create for you, your family and your business? Take some time to think about this and even jot down a few things you want to make sure to get done before the door closes on 2014. Remember, what you do today is creating your tomorrow!
Year-End Mini-Project: Email Reduction Plan
Just for good measure, I’ll pass along a year-end project that will not only reduce your stress, it will reduce your email load as well! For the next couple of weeks, respond to each email in your box. I know it’s a tall order, however, the results will be amazing. By respond, I mean take a good hard look at it and determine if you really need it. I’m especially referring to email subscriptions to things you never read. It’s time to say “goodbye” to these time wasters. Don’t even let them into your email box in the first place! Believe me, you’re never going to look back at all the newsletters you’ve saved.
If you ever need information, it’s all out there on the internet and you can find whatever you need when you needs it. Just for now, start deleting each and every subscription unless it’s absolutely a keeper. You’ll likely never miss them. Clean up your box starting now so that you’ll only be connected with what you value most by January 1st.
To your success! Tara Kachaturoff
Tara Kachaturoff is a high-energy creative business strategist who works with entrepreneurs who want to create more visibility and credibility for themselves and their businesses through implementing a variety of personal branding and marketing strategies. Working exclusively with high-performing motivated entrepreneurs, she inspires her clients to optimize their most valuable assets – their vision, values, strengths and talents. She provides information-packed, quality-oriented insight that inspires and enlightens. She is Michigan’s first Reach Certified Personal Brand Strategist. She is the producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur, a weekly television talk show featuring entrepreneurs from startup to stellar – now in its 9th year of production. More recently, she was a contributing author to Susan Chritton’s bestselling book, Personal Branding for Dummies, contributing a section on personal branding and TV.
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