As much as I love Christmas and the month of December, I look forward to the fresh start and that clean slate feeling that January brings. It is the perfect month to take time to reflect and review the past year and a chance to plan and dream for the new year. Aside from wanting to clean and organize every little corner of my house, I am taking time this month to review and plan for my business as well. 2014 was an amazing year of growth for Leaving A Mark Photography and I can't believe that my business will be turning TWO at the end of the month. I have so many plans and dreams for 2015!! I'm using the lists below as a starting point to help focus my thoughts. I love that this set of questions can work for personal planning or business planning (or both). I found these lists a couple of years ago and promptly printed them out, but did not save the information for where I found them. If anyone knows the author of these questions, please let me know as I would love to give them credit. Both of these are printed and on my desk with a few initial thoughts already recorded. If you need a jump start in your own planning and preparations for the coming year, I encourage you to print these out and take the time to get your ideas down on paper. Happy 2015!!

REVIEW: Completing & Remembering 2014

What was your biggest triumph in 2014?
What was he smartest decision you made in 2014?
What is one word or phrase that best describes your 2014 experience?
What was the greatest lesson you learned this year?
What was the most loving service you provided this year?
What is your biggest piece of unfinished business in 2014?
What are you most happy about completing in 2014?
Who were the three people that had the greatest impact on your life this year?
What was your biggest risk?
What was the biggest surprise in 2014?
What important relationships improved most in 2014?
What relationship would you have liked to grow stronger in 2014?
What compliment would you have liked to receive in 2014?
What compliment did you receive in 2014 that meant the most to you?
What compliment do you wish you would have liked given in 2014?
What were some of the influential books you read in 2014?
What were you passionate about in 2014? (Take time to think about this one. What does the evidence point to?)
What else do you need to do or say to be complete with 2014? (It’s not too late. Finish well!!)

PLAN: Creating Your 2015

What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2015?
What advice would you like to give yourself in 2015?
What major effort will improve your financial results in 2015?
What would you be most happy about completing in 2015?
What major indulgence would you like to experience in 2015?
What would you most like to change about yourself in 2015?
What are you looking forward to learning in 2015?
What do you think your biggest risk will be this year?
What area of your work are you most committed to changing and improving this year?
What is one undeveloped talent that you are willing to explore this year?
Who would you like to get to know better in 2015?
What brings you the most joy and how are you going to have more of that in 2015?
What one word or phrase would you like to have as your theme this year?
What gifts do you want to cultivate and share with others in 2015?
Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2015?
What are you passionate about for 2015? (Remember to look for evidence throughout the year)