The Productivity Pro Weekly Newsletter - December 26, 2012

Published: Wed, 12/26/12

Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro
"Life is divided into three terms---that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present to live better in the future." -- William Wordsworth, British poet.
Look Back on 2012 and Look Forward to 2013

If you're anything like me, you recently looked up and wondered (or said aloud to a friend), "Hey, what the heck happened to 2012?"

As we all know from experience, time really does fly when you're having fun. When it also flies at work, that's a good thing, because you know work fascinates you nearly as much as play. Wonderful news, right? Be careful here: just because you've kept busy and enjoy what you do doesn't mean you've actually accomplished anything lately. To get ahead, we have to leverage our past experiences to gain an advantage in the future.

So as you close out 2012, take a little time to study what you've learned. Ask yourself two fundamental questions when planning for the New Year:

1. How have I changed emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally, financially, and socially in 2012 (how can I usher out the old)?

2. What do I want to do more or less of in 2013 (how can I ring in the new)?

 Look Back on 2012 and Look Forward to 2013
 
Ushering Out the Old
Ushering Out the Old. On the work front, look back and consider all the projects you and your team have completed, as well as the status of those in progress. How effective and productive were you? Questions you might ask include:

- Have I left anything undone I needed to complete this year? 

- What project(s) do I feel happiest about completing?
 
Ringing in the New
Ringing In the New. The future represents the original "undiscovered country," and one should be well prepared before blazing new trails. So after you've weighed the lessons of 2012, consider what you've learned and use that knowledge as you move forward. Not only will this help you avoid the stumbles of previous forays, it'll prove useful in defining new strategies and goals. So pose another set of questions to yourself, facing forward this time:

- What accomplishment would make me happiest next year?

- What do I look forward to the most?

Read the rest of the article here
The 2013 STACK Attack!

Due to a special plea from a reader, I am hosting a New Year's productivity workflow makeover on Friday, February 1, 2013. Eight people will come to my home office in Denver, CO, to revamp their organization, email, and time management systems. To ensure everyone will get one-to-one hands-on instruction, this opportunity is limited to the first 8 people who register. No exceptions.

Learn more about this special opportunity

 2013 Productivity Workflow Makeover
Laura in the News
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Thanks for reading! Make it a productive day.™