Happy New Year – it is our time in 2010!

Personally, I have and will always take personal responsibility over my actions and New Years Eve has always been a time for reflection but NOT this year. Last year is in the economic history books – let’s all move on. After listening to speeches and reading many articles to help me shape my plan for 2010, I intend to distinguish myself from my competition in everything that I will do by doing what I do differently and by:

Relentless Preparation – Rudy Giuliani gave a speech and included this trait as a key attribute of a leader. With relentless preparation, you will not be caught off guard from the unknown. You will be more comfortable with your actions due to your hard work and daily preparation. Relentless preparation in today’s technological world will result in the power of knowledge. Using social networking and developing connections in your professional field takes time, effort, preparation and creativity. We are still on the crest of this technological wave and the entire world is at our finger tips. Let’s not ignore this opportunity and embrace the tidal wave of change with relentless preparation.

Investing in Others – In our profession and daily lives, we should be assisting others and share our experience and expertise without expecting anything in return. This is a mentor and educator. Not only is this approach good for others, it is good for us.

Living in a State of Gratitude – Time is a precious commodity not traded on the stock exchange. 86,400 seconds in a day and 14,600 days in our work careers – how will you use this time? Most people do not reflect on time until it is too precious to lose. Why not change our outlook, our thinking, and our attitude by living in a state of gratitude – right now!

The above 2010 approach is a vast departure from my previous 37 years of business plans – most of which were centered on business. The answer is in others. It just seems to me that the technological change and its ease of use allows us access to people we would never, ever know about nor communicate with. Connect with people around the world, expand your sphere of influence, and use the above approaches to do what you do differently in 2010.