blog, Personal

I love New Years. It always feels like a fresh start to me and I am {admittedly} fully wrapped up in the cheesiness of it every year. I have resolutions – lots of them. But more importantly, I have realizations. My realizations are things that I learned this year. They are the things that help me form my resolutions for the coming year and the things that help me continually evolve and become 100% comfortable with who I am….and to proclaim it with no apologies offered. So, here it goes…11 realizations from 2011. {These are just my top 11. I have…like…4 million.}

1.) It takes a few years in business to find your best team. From your own staff to the vendors you choose to work with, it takes time to get it right. But when you do, the positive energy that flows is priceless. I think I nailed it this year.

 
2.) {This is a big one} It’s OK to fire clients if they treat you poorly – and next year I will.

 
3.) For those of you who were by my side when I cried into my glass of wine, laughed {because I had to or I would melt down} and snapped…a few times…and still stuck by me this year: I love you and I’m quite positive that I’m luckier than most. My support system has got to be unmatched. My team, my friends, my husband and my parents were what kept me afloat when I was sinking fast this past year.

 
4.) Potatoes and bread are the enemy {Cheese, I still love you and I’ll never let you go!}.

 
5.) The people that I was jealous of last year at this time have faded into the background and their shine has completely worn off.

 
6.) A thrown out back is one of the worst things on earth to endure. I’ll never blow off someone’s complaint of back problems ever again.

 
7.) I like to do things a very specific way. As I get older, my tolerance for people who do not do things exactly as I do is starting to fade and I really don’t want that to happen. Must…stop…this…from…happening!

 
8.) Conferences, business books and mentors have been key to keeping my motivation in business. I learned so much this year and am so thankful for all of it. I don’t think you can ever learn enough.

 
9.) Listening to reggae music makes me happy. Reggae concert dates with the hubs, even better.

 
10.) You can never be too thankful. I believe that a missed thank you is a missed opportunity to put yourself in a positive place in someone’s mind – even if you weren’t there before. And to that note….If I’m too busy to send thank you cards, I’m too busy. It mortifies me that at some points this year, I didn’t get those out to everyone that I wanted to send them to.

 
11.) I had a busy, challenging, exhausting and beautiful year. I still wake up every day wanting to do what I do – and do it better. I still want to push myself. I still want to define myself and my style and show my talents to the world. I’m extremely thankful for that.

I feel blessed to have gained more clarity, knowledge and friendship this year. I look forward to 2012 and more realizations! Do you have realizations? Resolutions? Or great book recommendations? I’d love to hear them all!