So we have this brand-spanking new year. And I look at the calendar and it's already past the first week. Was it just me or did everything go awry over the holidays? Was it not more hectic than anticipated? Were we not all jumping through hoops trying to get the last of those 2006 projects completed (contracts signed, listing/transaction coordinated, etc?). Did I not talk about relaxing... and yet fail once again to actually DO the relaxing? I had a couple really good, really relaxing days -- then it all hit me again. *sigh*

I know that much of the stuff I killed myself to get finished before the magical date of January 1 -- is still staring at me... and it's not blinking.

I still have my file with the "how I'm going to better organize my business and my life" on the first page that opens when I go to my OneNote program. I even have a paper version beside my mouse -- just in case that makes jotting notes in between other tasks a bit easier. (So far, it's just got notes on phone calls I needed to return.)

All my best-laid plans.. and so far, it's not working.

What HAVE I managed to accomplish?

• I've organized my physical space in the office to be a bit more pleasant and to make things easier to find when I need them. It's a small thing, but it matters.
• I've set up a plan to complete my "paperless office" goal -- although it won't be completed until probably the first part of the second quarter, at this rate -- and I've decided to hire someone else to do the scanning and filing.
  
• I've completed the beta testing, beta 2 testing and the "technical refresh" version of the new Office 2007 suite on my computer and I'm now running the market version in trial mode -- so I'm ready to help my client that will be yelling for help in the next few months. (check it out here if you are interested). And I also have business contact manager and the accounting program working with my Office packages to make life easier.
• I've wiped and completely restored my Tablet PC (no small task) with only the most essential programs for my work. (I did manage to do a blog on this earlier this week.)
• I've been invited to be an "offical blogger" at the National Conference on Media Reform in Memphis and I leave for that tomorrow morning. I'll be blogging on WickedBlog and maybe a bit here too, on topics of interest. I believe how the legislation for media is handled over the next few months will dramatically impact all of us who depend on the Internet for running our business. And, if there has ever been a topic which brings out the activist in me, this is it -- no matter how busy I am. (However, I have NOT managed to pack my clothes for this trip yet. My "go bag" for my computer and essentials -- IS ready.)
• I've managed to locate and purchase what I consider to be the closest thing to the perfect "go bag" for my portable business. Sounds like a small thing -- but for me it's a big deal! Now, I can fit all my essentials (including my Tablet PC, portable hard drive, external mouse and keyboard, camera, iPod, cell phone, charger cables and extra batteries, business cards, pen & pencil, composition book with leather cover, and a tiny purse) all in something that is light enough and small enough to carry around all day. And, with all the pockets and slots and such, it all stays organized. See? No small task!
• I've caught up on most of my client work, pruned my client list, made a decision to not accept new clients until the second quarter of the year, referred out all kinds of great folks requesting help in the last couple weeks to peer service providers, and have scheduled (in my new version of Outlook) what still needs to be done with existing clients.

It's going to be a long month, I can tell already. But, I still believe that 2007 is going to be an excellent year. I just need to adjust my personal deadlines for having all my planning done to be a bit more flexible. And I need to get back in the groove of blogging more often -- on my own blog, here on ActiveRain and on the other venues where I contribute regularly. (I miss it when I don't blog -- things seem all out of kilter!)

So, is it just me, or has January also hit everyone else like a large bus?

What steps are you taking to make 2007 better than 2006 was, right now -- from the beginning?