As we Rocket careers to be Great in 2008, I would like to
review some important principles:

#1. You Control the Outcome!

Events will occur and the "best laid plans" will, for sure,
come to pass differently than you imagined, its how you
react to the events, its how you adapt to those last minute
distractions, disruptions, disappointments and obstacles,
that will determine how great your success will be in
2008. FOCUS is the word of the Year! Keep your mind open
to new thoughts and ideas, but don't get seduced away from
your goals. FOCUS turns fear into fuel, motion into
concentrated action for results sake instead of just
action's sake. FOCUS reduces the frustration of wasted
efforts. FOCUS will help you determine if you are on the
right path. Steven Covey once said "You can spend your
life climbing the ladder to success only to find that your
ladder is leaning against the wrong tree!" FOCUS will help
you prevent that from happening. Once you FOCUS, it
becomes fun, exciting and the passion for your vision
creates energy. If your FOCUS creates more anxiety,
frustration and misery, then you will know you have the
wrong focus, the wrong vision, or the wrong approach to
obtain your vision.

#2. Gratitude for Today Creates Possibilities for Tomorrow!

All the best authors and researchers of the Laws of the
Universe will tell you that your level of gratitude for
what you have today plays a significant role in your
ability to improve your present and your future. With "An
Attitude of Gratitude"; www.thesecret. com , you effectively
change your internal paradigm of "POOR ME" to "Happy for
what I have" and "Happier for what I am creating".

#3. There are Always 2 Sides to Every Story!

Remember reading mystery novels? Remember watching
"mystery" made for TV movies? They all had the plot twist;
there were always 2 sides to every story.

Every event has 2 sides; the side you see as good or bad
and its opposite. So next time that important appointment
gets postponed or your best client fires you or you get a
tear in your favorite shirt, you should stop and ask
yourself these questions: * Why did this happen? * What can
I learn from this experience? * How can I apply what I have
learned to create opportunity in my future? That
appointment might have postponed because you really were
not as prepared as you could be for the appointment. Your
best client fired you to make room for two new clients that
will challenge you and make you better. You tore your
favorite shirt because, frankly, it needed to be replaced
two years ago!

So, you don't have to write a TV movie of the week to learn
something from the good, the bad and the ugly of your
experiences. Ask the questions, then get quiet and listen
for the answers from within.

#4. When is NOW soon enough to make 2008 Great?

A very old expression - Don't put off till tomorrow what
you can accomplish today -

Like an old comfortable paid of slippers, your routine,
job, attitude and actions are so easy to wear, accomplish,
complain about and live with. The well worn path is so
easy to walk. NOW, what would happen if you allowed
yourself to stop talking about what could have been if?
What would happen if you stopped making excuses as to why
you are still: Overweight, underpaid, in debt, out of work,
in a bad relationship, struggling with depression or just
downright unhappy? When is NOW soon enough to create the
life you are truly meant to have: Healthy, Financially
Free, Professionally Fulfilled, Totally in Love, Happy for
no Reason and Happy for all the Right Reasons? Getting
psyched up from reading this is just Step #1.

Step #2 is actually getting up from your computer, looking
in the mirror and telling yourself NOW is the time for me
to celebrate me! Start the moment you say that with a
piece of paper and write down 5 small steps you can take
today to change your life. 5 small things: A 5 minute
walk, 5 ideas for making money outside your job, 5 places
to put your resume to get a better job, 5 ways to move from
spending to saving and paying down debt, 5 ways to be nice
to your spouse, maybe with a nice hand written note showing
love and gratitude.

I'm talking about 5 small items. It's not jumping off the
cliff. It's not a radical change, outwardly seen by most.
It's just 5 small steps. If you take and build on those
steps you can make life altering changes, NOW.

START NOW, TODAY, DON'T WAIT! Remember, if you don't take
care of yourself, who will?

It's a leap of faith to make 2008 Great!

About the Author:

Diane Dutton, MBA, CPA, Speaker, Business Strategy
Consultant and author of "A Woman's Ladder To Success",
available at Amazon.com. For more information on this and
the other factors facing your business growth potential ,
read the rest of the story at
http://www.businesswomenspeak.com , write to me at
ddutton@businesswomenspeak.com.