Auld Lang Syne

By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth

As a business person this is absolutely my favorite time of the year. It’s the bittersweet time where one year draws to an end as a new year looms eminent. I’ve come to see something entrepreneurially sacred about time spent reflecting upon lessons learned, while also experiencing the great anticipation of implementing next year’s strategic plan. This is the time of year where an honest evaluation positions you for success, or where intellectually dishonest rationalizations and justifications can simply carry failures forward into the new year. My challenge to you as we move into 2010 is to make sure that you’ve been brutally honest about your performance in 2009. It is critical that you don’t carry mistakes forward, that you don’t extend failed initiatives which should have died long ago, and that you don’t allow your pride and ego to impede right thinking and right decisioning. Knowingly turning a blind eye toward rational thinking and reality is a fools gambit that will cost you dearly. I urge you not to participate in the folly of self-delusion. I encourage you to be sincere in your analysis and make the most of your opportunities in 2010. Happy New Year!