5 Ways I’ll Screw Up 2009

Andy Wibbels, blogger, speaker and author of BlogWild – a book I just love-love-love that helps you get started blogging, just posted his 5 Ways He’ll F— Up 2009.   He starts his post by saying:

Instead of a list of tips and tricks on how to extract the maximum Shamwow out of your new year, I thought I’d do the exact opposite. Actually I started off writing a list of things I wish I’d kept in mind in 2008 and thought they’d probably be applicable to you as well.

I’m a “glass half full” kinda girl, but Andy has a point – if we look back at the things we did or didn’t do that we wish could have been different and apply those to our goals for 2009 – we might just be successful.  Finally, a use for hindsight.

So here’s mine:

1. Continuing to do the same thing everyday and expect different results.  Whether it is my approach to exercise and eating or how I plan my work day – continuing to do the same thing and fingers-crossed, hope for different results has not been successful for me.  I once attended a Weight Watcher meeting and the leader said that she gained 78 pounds by starting each day with a bowl of whole grain cereal, skim milk and a hope for weight loss.  So whether it is how I approach customer relationships or healthy living – I WILL approach life differently in 2009 or else I’ll surely screw it up!
2. Leaving myself off the priority list.  I don’t know if it is a female thing or a working mom thing – but if I am on the list of things to do, I’m so far down the list I never seem to become a priority.  So in 2009 I need to put myself closer to the top of the list to ensure there is time for continuing education, learning new skills, reaching out to friends and time for rest and rejuvenation.  For if I’m learning new things, refreshed and healthier I can bring more to my business and my customers.
3. Blow off reading, commenting and participating in the online, global community of Social Media.  If my only presence on the web is to TALK AT I will fail to learn and build relationships.  Just like students often provide a more valuable learning experience for the teacher – I believe I can learn far more from others on the web than I can inpart from my own experiences.
4. Start a bunch of things and never finish anything.  I’m a big picture thinker – there are a million ideas, projects and tasks rolling around in my head.

 This is a photo of the binder with my ideas for 2009, to do lists, research, articles, notes and competitive information.  Egads.  So unless I take one tab at a time and work my way down the to-dos – I’ll fail in 2009 FOR SURE.

5.  Miss My Make or Break Moments. If I stay in the office, head down and focused on each specific task I will surely miss opportunities to network, connect with my customers, make a difference in the life of a new entrepreneur and totally blow any chance of growing my business in 2009. 

So how about you?  In what ways will you screw up 2009?  Andy asked that we tag a few blogging friends for their thoughts – so tag you’re it:  Chris, Drew, Dan and Ivana

Join in the fun at Andy’s place.