If only the challenges, issues and situations we face daily were changed as easily as our calendars and the writing of a new digit at the beginning of  the new year. They are not.

The idea of a new year is so psychologically and emotionally important, we’d need to invent something like it if we didn’t have a fresh start to keep our lives sane and manageable.  A year gives us the opportunity to see things come full circle.  There is the time to plant and the time to harvest.  We have moments of clarity and purpose and times of discouragement.  We have times when we achieve great success as well as moments when we search for the answers.

Look in your mind and heart toward your future.   If you have a great gust of wind pushing you forward, then keep your sails trimmed so that you continue to move in that direction.  If not, begin again.  Renew your spirit and mind. Make tough decisions about your closet, your acquaintances, and your business. 

Take the time to review, rethink, evaluate, and plan.  Gather the information you need, then turn off the endless drone of the news cycle.  Resolve to be more fit and healthy than you are now. Keep acting on it.  Connect with your spiritual side. Love all your family and friends and make sure they know it.  Give up draining behaviors like complaining, one-upmanship, self-pity and blame. Speak words of hope, optimism and compassion.  

Should you fall short of these goals, forgive yourself and embrace your noble and best self.  Do these things specifically for you, no matter what anyone else ever says or does. Don’t worry that they aren’t changing. This is not your job. Once you’ve fully embraced these ideas, begin again.

Use the advent of a new calendar and the act of writing a new digit on the end of the year serve as reminders that you must be the agent of change, success and prosperity that you seek.

Questions: How do I want 2009 to be different than last year? What steps can I take to ensure that?

– Dean L.

We respond to a question from a listener about changing careers.  Dean and I talk about business plans, investors, marketing and getting started.  I think it’s a very good podcast.

Rosh

You may recall a year ago Dean and I recorded a podcast called “Change”.  It was about the daily newspaper I worked for closing its photography department.  I would now fully depend on my business to feed my family. I was both excited and nervous.

The freedom of not being dependent on another company for income had been a goal of mine for years. I had resisted letting go because having a safety net was always reassuring.   But, I decided at that moment I would never let such power be held over me again.  Nothing is scarier then knowing you can quickly become unemployed because someone else didn’t make their numbers.  

I’ve now been on my own for a year. Success. I’ve made great gains and I’m making more money then I’ve ever made in my life.  Why?  One reason is the safety net is no longer holding me back.  My business income was growing before, but it never seemed to be enough to pay for all the comforts my family might need.

When starting out to build a business having a safety net can be good decision.  I’ve recommended keeping a part-time job to a number of people going out on their own.  Often, the hard part is knowing when to let go.  One thing is for sure, if you stay to long, the universe will one day push you out of the nest. 

I’m celebrating.  Not because it was an easy year, it wasn’t.  I assure you after my wife left her full time union newspaper position in November 2006, losing my part-time position seven months later, the addition of a child and prices going through the roof. We’ve had adjustments to make. 

One thing is for sure; we would have never made all the adjustments necessary if we still worked under the “safe” thumb of another company. 

Living in Michigan I’ve had to ignore the economy for the last seven years.  The current national down turn doesn’t scare me one bit.   My company is going to grow another twenty percent this year.  I’m already on track for a 35% raise.

I’m not worrying if I’ll have a job tomorrow, like so many in my town. Now that is a secure feeling. 

How do I do it?   I do what we talk about on prosperousartists.com

Rosh