Resolute Resolutions

As we come to the close of another year, I, like almost everyone else, usually takes a look back at the year that was, personally, professionally, and otherwise. I think 2004 served up some major lessons to all of us, and if our minds were open and clear we saw some good, some ugly, some weird, and some that just was.

I'd have to say that 2004 was a very good year for my company, as well as for me personally. I was able to do quite a few things this year in all aspects of my business. I got to travel to a state I'd never been to, as well as one I never thought I'd visit again after living there for a few years, presenting on management and leadership topics. I was able to give a few presentations here in my home area on topics related to leadership, diversity, customer service, and training programs. I coached a few people this year, and know that I'm going to increase those numbers in 2005; heck, one person I coached actually ended up landing a large contract three weeks after I started coaching him on some business principles. That didn't hurt anyone's feelings, I'll admit. I even got to present some seminars on leadership, which of course I advertise, as well as set up workshops that I hope to take on the road in 2005.

The healthcare side of my business was also fantastic, as I got to do a long term assignment out of town that helped me stay on top of things in that particular industry. I went to two separate conventions in 2004 as a visitor only, for once, and I enjoyed meeting many new people, as well as renew old acquaintances. And, for both businesses, my newsletter subscriptions went up, and that's always a good thing.

Still, there were lessons to be learned, and things we all need to improve on, and so, as there is a new year coming up, there are some resolutions that I'm going to state to you, based on experiences from this past year.

1. I resolve to keep talking about customer service issues, as well as keep trying to practice those same things as it concerns my business. I will not hang up on any person, client or not, as I had it happen to me when I called my mortgage company to ask them about an increase in my mortgage for the coming year. I will not talk down to any client of mine as though they're uneducated, as I hear the complaints all the time from people who have to call their internet providers for assistance. I will continue to work even more on my communications skills when talking to both clients and new people I encounter, as I witnessed time and time again how other customer service employees gave incorrect answers, spoke to customers in a rude tone, and even at times promised something that they knew they weren't going to even attempt to deliver on.


2. I resolve to keep writing about management and leadership issues, as well as to keep trying to live by the principles I speak and write on. This past year I saw and heard about managers who castigated employees, made promises they didn't keep, stole ideas from others and passed them off as their own work, and all sorts of nefarious other scenes. I dealt with managers who felt as though they earned respect because of the title, not because of the deeds. I saw how there was even a greater need for education on communication skills than anyone might imagine. Locally, as a couple of companies had to close their doors in 2004, I saw how proper management skills might have either staved off those companies and organizations having to close their doors at all, or at least helped to make the transition go smoother for their workers.


3. I resolve to keep writing about issues concerning diversity and acceptance of others. This past year saw the country in an uproar over same sex marriages, boycotts of companies for practices against minorities, and ever more fallout from the mistreatment of those who were deemed "prisoners of war" by our government. I wasn't surprised by any of this, just dismayed that things got to the emotional levels they did. I watched as the country seemed to take some steps backwards in protecting the rights of those who are subjected to second class citizenship on almost a daily basis, including the disabled, the mislabeled, and even those who were only trying to protect their own troops by using their ingenuity. There were a great many people who needed to feel ashamed of themselves in 2005; I'm glad I wasn't among them.


4. I resolve to work with more individuals this year to help them with their professional as well as personal lives. I truly believe that executive coaching also helps people deal with every day situations. The same person I talked about above who landed the contract also told me that by following one of the processes I helped him visualize as it regarded his business at home that he and his family grew closer, as it helped him recognize their needs of his time. I had other clients who said that helping them through their work issues had made them happier when they left work; that's what it's really all about.


5. Finally, I resolve to try harder this coming year to be more motivating in my newsletters, while I try to address all the issues I do. Like everyone else, I have issues in my life from time to time. Overall, though, I'm a very happy person. People who follow their own principles, if those principles are positive, are happy people themselves. I believe we need to laugh more, need to be more reflective on our lives and situations, need to think about how what we do impacts others, and always try to find something positive in almost every situation. Every situation I wrote about this year was positive for me, because it gave me something else I could use to write these newsletters. I saw things I said I'd never do, and I saw other things I believed I should incorporate into my life. I met a great many people this year, both in person and online, and I'm happy to say that both my business and my life is looking up.

Back in April, I wrote a mantra for myself, sort of a daily affirmation that I wanted to live by. I enlarged it, colored it, gave it a fancy font, printed it out, and taped it onto the side of my computer. I resolved that from that day forward, whenever I was home, I would look at that saying the first thing in the morning, say it out loud, and make sure I looked at it at least a few times every day. And I resolved that I would live it, and use it as my guiding light. The next day, I started feeling better, and I haven't looked back. You can use mine, or you can write one for yourself, but I recommend doing something like this for yourself. Mine reads thus: "Today I'm going to have fun, be prosperous and healthy, and live my life to the fullest."

Have a safe and happy 2005, and remember to live life to the fullest.