Reflection Rocks!

by Robin Kramer of Flourish & Thrive Academy

I love the holidays! December is my favorite month – holiday parties, seeing family and friends, shopping, lots of fun holiday decorations, delicious food, and the joy of giving gifts. What’s extra awesome about December is that it’s the close to the year:

A time for reflection, a time for gratitude and a time for paying it forward.

I like to look back on everything that I accomplished in the year and I especially like to do this with my clients.

It’s so easy to go to the place of looking at everything that wasn’t done. Let’s face it, we can always do more and we can always do things differently, but it is so important to embrace all that was accomplished. Time flies by and it seems to go even faster as I get older.

Reflection is a great way to honor yourself, breathe and appreciate your hard work.

I recently had a meeting with a client and we not only looked at where they were professionally in 2012, but also personally. Their sales were down for the year, but their profitability was up. Profitability is a great benchmark for a sustainable business so this was fantastic news! In addition to the increased bottom line, they were able to take a 10-day vacation to Italy in 4th quarter. Their staff totally rose to the occasion and not only held down the fort, but had record sales for October!

Part of having your own business is establishing the right path for financial success, hiring the right people to support it and being able to trust what you have created. By taking the time at the end of the year to reflect, you can recognize your strengths and opportunities.

Here’s my end of year reflection exercise.

Write down 3 things I accomplished this year.
Write down 3 things I am grateful for.
Send a Thank You note or gift to those who supported me and helped me grow professionally or personally.

Take time to reflect on all that you have done. Be sure to thank yourself and thank those who helped you. Wishing you a magical December and 2013 filled with happy and joyous reflecting!

Be sure to leave a comment telling us about your end of the year traditions! Also, what do you do to prepare for the new year?