Reflection

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This is the final post in the “Improving Your Life in 31 Days” series. For more information, and to view an index of all the posts in this series, please click here to go to the central page.

Due to the holidays, the last week of this series has been short, but there should be enough substance from the rest of the series to have kept you busy—and if you didn’t follow it, who says you can’t go to the beginning and start right away?

Anyway, this post is about reflection. Not just to reflect your progress in this series, and how well you kept up with it, but in light of the new year, it’s also about reflection for how the year 2009 has went for you.

Break Out That Journal One More Time

Going back to the journal I had you start in the first post of the series, I ask you to bring it out one last time (hopefully it won’t be the last time, but for this series anyway).

First, write about the experience you had with this series. What did you try out? What did you learn? What habits do you think you’d like to continue with? And which one’s don’t you think you want to take part in? Why?

Just brainstorm and take a moment to truly reflect your progress, IF you were following the series at all.

Your next course of action is for everyone, regardless if you decided to follow this “improving your life” series. Take a look back on the year 2009 and give yourself a short, informal review of how everything went. Did you keep up with your new years resolution you set? Do you even remember it?

Take a moment to recognize what you did well and be proud of yourself. Also, keep in mind where you were weak, and how you plan on improving in 2010… if you manage to keep writing in your journal throughout 2010, you’ll be able to keep track of your progress easier, rather than just going through the same exact reflection as you are today… next year.

On the Personal Side of Things

2009 has probably been the fastest year I’ve ever experienced. It went by in a heart-beat, and that’s mostly due to the fact that I’ve enjoyed it very much, and I have my family to thank for that.

Exactly one-year today (on December 31, 2008), I started this blog and honestly, it didn’t have much direction back then. A few months after it launched, I didn’t know exactly where I was going with it. I didn’t want to give up, however, I felt like I was forced to take a hiatus (while still leaving the content online) to restate my purpose for this website, and to learn a little more about blogging and how to better maintain one.

This website has been going strong since I came back from the hiatus months ago, mostly because I took the time to get more organized, and to make some adjustments to the layout, the content, and overall subject matter. I’ve been very motivated ever since and I’m pleased to say that my blog’s content has reflected that pretty well.

I have big plans for Develop Minds in 2010, so keep an eye out.

In fact, I’m preparing to stop supporting my current product line and will in the next few months take part in the biggest product launch that I’ve ever done. It’ll be a product that I put all my effort into, and that I’ll be extremely proud to stand behind—I think it will do very well. More info on that as the time gets closer, so stay tuned if you’re at all interested in finding out what I’m talking about.

Also, sometime around late March or early April 2010 I’ll be the father of two as my little Sara Evelyn will finally be born! So in 2010 I’ll be learning a tremendous amount more about being a father, which is an area that any parent could improve in.

I’m sure that being a parent of two little girls will be much different than being the father of just one, and there will undoubtedly be many challenges ahead, but I’m staying positive and welcoming these new challenges with open arms. I’m very excited, and so is Biffy… we both can’t wait until she is born. We’re also very thankful that the pregnancy is going extremely well.

Overall I’m very excited about the year 2010, both from a personal AND business perspective… and I hope you stick with me here as a subscriber through it all! Next year I’ll give myself a more formal review, to cover both my personal goals and my business goals for 2010.

Anyway, I’m about to go enjoy the rest of New Years Eve. Good luck to YOU in 2010, and have a Happy New Year!

Oh yeah, and Happy Birthday to the Develop Minds Blog!