Five Mistakes I Made Last Year

By Michele Pariza Wacek © 2006

Even though I'm pretty happy with how last year turned out, there are still some things I wish I had done differently. Here are 5 things I aim to change for this current year..

1. Didn't take time out for me. I admit it, I have the typical entrepreneur bug. I spent way too much time working on my business and not nearly enough time on me. This year, I plan to take more breaks and schedule in some "me-time."

2. Wasn't as consistent with my own marketing. Much like not taking time out for me, I also struggled with not taking as much time as I should have for marketing my own business. (Remember the old adage of the shoemaker's children running around barefoot? Marketing my clients' businesses always came before my own.) Now, my business has grown rapidly, so although I'm not exactly complaining, I do wonder where I'd be if I had been more consistent about my own marketing.

3. Got distracted. One of my biggest problems is what my coach, Melanie Benson Strick, Success Connections, calls "bright shiny object syndrome." That's where you find yourself chasing all sorts of bright shiny objects (also known as "new" opportunities or "new" ideas) rather than focusing on your core business systems. What happens is you end up with a lot of half-finished or barely-started ideas and very few actually completed.

I unfortunately have this syndrome bad. Although I'm much better than I used to be, I still allowed myself to get distracted by a few half-baked plans in last year.

Which leads me to #4

4. Didn't attain a couple of my business goals. Because I allowed myself to get distracted, I didn't meet a couple of business goals last year. Needless to say, this mistake is at the top of my list of issues to address in 2006. Now that I know how to eliminate the vast majority of distractions, I'm looking forward to getting even more tasks accomplished in this current year.

5. Waited too long to do the things I did right. Okay, I know this is the wrong thing to focus on, but I just have to say it and then I can move on. Last year was such a banner year for me and a large reason for that was because of the 5 Things I Did Right (you can read that article on my blog, http://www.writingusa.com/blog). But unfortunately, I also can't help wondering where I would be if I hadn't waited so long to start doing those things.

Okay, I said it, and now I can move on. But please, if nothing else, don't make THIS same mistake - read my article on the 5 Things I Did Right and see if there are a few things you can implement in your business. That may be the ticket to turning this year into your best year ever.

About the Author:

Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting, marketing communications and creativity agency. She helps people become more successful at attracting new clients, selling products and services and boosting business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.writingusa.com. Copyright 2006 Michele Pariza Wacek.