It’s the time of year to assess and evaluate the year that is coming to a close.

The typical questions I hear are…
“What were your best moments of this year?”
“What were your most challenging moments of this year?”
What are your goals for the coming year?”

As I sit here in my home office on a sunny, chilly Chicago day, I begin to reflect of this past year. As I do, I begin to feel a sense of relaxation as memories of accomplishments and challenges enter my mind. On a day-to-day basis, I have the tendency to constantly fret that I am not doing enough or I haven’t reached the goals that I have set for myself and for my business.

I know that that way of thinking is not helpful. It is, however, beneficial for me to assess what worked well and what didn’t work out so well. But…and here is the important part…it is most essential to not obsess over my mistakes. That only keeps me lower…in my goals and in my energy. I can put up a good front sometimes. I give the illusion that I always have a positive attitude. I can easily lift others up and give them encouragement. But, giving myself that same encouragement doesn’t always come easily.

One new activity that I started doing in 2019 is kickboxing. I absolutely love it! Since joining I Love Kickboxing (Yes, that is the name of the studio!) in mid-May, I have gone to classes on average three to five times per week. It is during these classes where I absolutely do give myself encouragement and sometimes I blurt out, “Come on, Julie! You’ve got this!” It wasn’t long before I noticed that what I was accomplishing in the kickboxing studio easily translated into my “go get ’em” attitude in my business. As I jab-cross-right round house-right front kick-squat, I think to myself, “If I can continue this round and get my heart rate in the orange zone for this whole round, then I can absolutely reach those goals I have set for myself in my business.”

I got my website redesigned, I changed to a more automated proposal system and CRM, I have traveled to present my communication programs to more organizations, have been able to coach more individuals and teams on my “Think On Your Feet” Public Speaking Coaching, and  I attended Amy Porterfield’s Entrepreneur Experience (EE) three-day event in October. Catapulting my business to the next level(s) means following and learning from the best. Amy Porterfield, whose podcast is “Online Marketing Made Easy,” shares incredibly valuable nuggets of information to entrepreneurial business owners like me. As a result of attending EE, I am now connected with a group of incredibly intelligent, hard working, innovative women who lift each other up and provide tactical help to each other.

Oh, and one more accomplishment that I almost forgot about…I would say that I conquered my fear of heights! While visiting one of my sisters and her family, the group of us spent a day at the world’s largest elevated ropes course. When the guide asked the group, “Is anyone here afraid of heights?” My sister and I answered at the same time. She replied with a confident, “No” while I said, “Oh…yes.” Along the course, my 10-year-old niece acted as my coach. Definitely my confidence coach. She had a knack for knowing exactly when I needed encouragement. As I would hesitate on the platform to take a leap to the next platform or line of rope to cross, she would say, “Come on, Aunt Julie. You can do it. All you have to do is hold on here then just let go. It’s fun!” It amazed me how loving, confident, and encouraging my niece was for me as I faced one of my biggest fears. Isn’t it a gift to have people in your corner who encourage you exactly when you need it? I sure think so!

Now, as 2020 is around the corner, I am absolutely thrilled to continue with the progress I have made in 2019. I like to think of it this way: 2019 isn’t coming to an end, it is morphing into 2020, which is going to be a stellar year.

What are you doing for yourself that gives you strength within and gives you strength to continue moving toward your goals?

I wish you moments in the next few days for you to acknowledge all you have accomplished and learned in 2019 and the time for you to decide and plan what you would like for 2020.

May 2020 be your stellar year!

Julie Ostrow
Humorous Speaker and Communication Coach
www.JulieOstrow.com