The New Year 2009 is here. The beginning of a new year is always the time of mixed feelings.  While we anticipate the year ahead with joyful feelings, we also wonder, have we done well during the last year.  Could we have done more?  Did we achieve all that we set out to do?

The Answer is a definite yes.  We could have done much more.  We could have set bigger goals and achieved more. 

But we need not despair for what we have done less.  It is a wonderful time to take stock.  Review what we have done.  Correct our courses.  Plan and develop our systems.  Take help where we lacked. 

We can make 2009 the best ever, the most productive, powerful and rewarding year ever in our life.  Here are a few questions we can ask ourselves to achieve the best year ever in our lives.   

Do I take Responsibility?

 This perhaps is the biggest question we can ask ourselves before we set out to achieve big successes in 2009.  I have analyzed and honestly believe that every failure can be traced to our own actions.

 We may blame the world, the politics, the markets, our colleagues, demanding customers our boss…it’s an endless list.  However if we are honest enough, we can see so many actions we could have taken which would have improved the situation and circumstances.  But we always pass the buck to someone else.  We are to blame if we don’t set our priorities right and have clear plans and goals.  We must be proactive in finding solutions that could have prevented failures and set backs and direct actions in the right way.

 External factors can influence any single event only 20%.  We still have 80 % probability of making any thing work.  Look at what all we could have done instead of looking at things that are not in our control

 Am I Honest?

 Without meaning to hurt anyone’s sentiments, we generally are not honest.  Do we treat with absolute honesty our relationships with peers, colleagues, family and friends?  Do we squander valuable time in our workplace and with family in pursuits which are detrimental to both?

 You can always report a bad boss for late working hours to your spouse instead of your own inefficiency.  You can point the finger of blame silently to your colleagues.  Dishonesty never allows for good relationships between friends, colleagues and family.  Give quality time to everyone.

 Am I Working For Myself?

 We all mistakenly believe we are working for companies, organizations and bosses.  This is incorrect.  We are working under the umbrella of the organization, under the leadership of our bosses and under the disciplines of the company.

 Ultimately we are working for ourselves.  This one realization alone could improve our work and productivity.  Every day we work and work more productively and work some more, we are improving ourselves.  Every improvement and all the work we do is for the self and not for others.    

 Don’t cut on your work and improvement on the pretext of less pay, long working hours or bad boss.  You will be cutting out your progress.

 And here are some things you can do to make the year 2008 the most productive year.

 Map Your Year

 You cannot attempt and do everything.  What are my priorities for the year 2009.  Do I want more sales?  Do I growth?  Do we want to improve the quality of some areas in our work?  Do I want to improve my relationship with some one in family or colleague?  Quantify everything in a select list of what you want to achieve.

Mapping is tempering aspirations with the reality, vision with conservatism of what is possible.

Set Up A System

Once you have create a map of what you want to achieve, where you want to go set up a system of reaching your goals.  Unless you have clear roadmap of where you want to go, you may end up reaching there much later than planned.

Note down every step, time and deadlines, how and what.  If you need a 25% improvement in profitability, sales or results of any kind, write it down.  What are the steps, who are going to perform what role in achieving this?  Do you require any help? 

Take time to develop a system which would take you to your goals.  Take time to review everything periodically.  Take the time to discuss with someone you trust and take help when required.