2017 Year In Review

This time of year, I'm often preaching to my audience about reflecting on the year before setting goals for the year ahead (or doing a reflection and then tweaking goals they may have set already). I'm taking my own advice and doing my own annual review. I'll be honest – most years I don't get around to it because its peak season for me. Between planner orders and clients on a mission to organize their businesses, I am a rolling stone November-January.

As a small business owner/solopreneur/entrepreneur/whatever you want to call yourself, it is really easy to be hyper focused on what's going on today, or dwell on how today went. It is easy to get hung up on the one (minor) bad thing that happened today and not the 10 great things that happened all around it. As with most years, there were plenty of ups and downs in 2017, but as the year winds down, I'm taking time out to highlight the good memories and accomplishments of the year. Here they are:

Launched Plan with Me Sundays

After spending some time in a bunch of planner Facebook groups, I have to admit I got a little crazy watching people not actually *plan* with their planners. I heard about “plan with me” videos, but when I tuned in to a few, they were mostly just people decorating their planners. I get the appeal but…one, I'm not going to do all that, and two…well, maybe there's no two. I'm just not going to do all that! I wanted a “plan with me” that was actually about planning – so I created a bi-weekly livestream series where I talk about all things planning related. Here's the upcoming schedule.

Re-launch of Systems School

Systems School grew out of a series of broadcasts I did on Periscope back in 2015. I launched the course at the end of that year, and in 2016 wanted to bring it back, but just didn't have the bandwidth. I'll be retooling it again in 2018 to be more module based – so people can get the overview of important business systems, but then get in depth info on the systems they feel are most relevant for their situation. Sign up for my list to hear about the next launch.

Added two new planners to my product line up

I created The Next 12 Months: Weekly Planner back in 2015. Inspired by someone who wanted a simplified version, I created the Monthly Planner this year. And, for those who want daily detailed scheduling, there's  90 day version now, too. I don't know the numbers yet (I haven't wanted to know), but considering that the original Weekly Planner is on back order until January, I'm guessing this was the best sales year so far. 🙂  Learn more about the planners.

Lead a session at Ontrapalooza 2017

I love speaking at events, leading workshops, etc etc. This year, I presented a session on personal branding and social media at Ontrapalooza, Ontraport's conference for, you guessed it, entrepreneurs. Ha! I've wanted to speak at the event for a few years now, so when the opportunity came this year, I was thrilled.

Participated in two panels at QuickBooks Connect 2017

Like I said – I love speaking at events. I also love talking about systems. Last year, QuickBooks came by to talk to me about how I use their QuickBooks Self-Employed product. Everyone I've connected with at QuickBooks is pretty darn great and I love the product, so when they asked me to speak at their event, I said “whatever you want me to do, I'll do.” And so, I was on a panel about success strategies for the self-employed and a panel about time management strategies. Check out the success strategies panel here. And seriously – this event was really well done. Put it on your radar for 2018.

Launched the One Organized Business Podcast

I started my first podcast, At the Helm, in 2013 and quickly followed with 18 to 49, an entertainment show. Both went on hiatus eventually and I've been missing podcasting ever since. As soon as Systems School ended this fall, I jumped in to getting my show out and already have outlines for a year's worth of content. I won't get to it all over the next 12 months, because I have some great guests lined up to come through, but it's all coming soon. Check out the podcast here.

Got interviewed on some great podcasts and blogs

I feel honored when people give me a little corner of their space by writing about me or inviting me to be on their shows. Two of the highlights for me this year were being on the System Execution Podcast and this profile piece the QuickBooks team wrote about me. I remember giving the interview, but I was still surprised at how great the piece turned out. You can see other places I've been featured on my press page…eventually. I'm in the process of rebuilding it. 🙂

Launched a 90 day group program (starts in January)

I've been ready for another group program, but haven't finished tweaking Systems School and my mastermind will be back later in Q1 of 2018. After a catch up session with a business pal, she encouraged me to develop my own system for helping people attract and nurture their prospects. She pointed out that I've taught other people's methods for almost a decade and backed their info up with my own systems know how – so why didn't I have my own thing? Sometimes we need folks to hold a mirror up for us. My Action and Accountability group is a 90 day program to help people focus on helping people achieve one big goal they have for the year. I'm still finishing up my From Prospect to Client guide and members of this new group get to be the first ones to try it out. Very excited for both of these things to come to life in January. Learn more about the group.

Worked with great new clients – and long time clients

One of my favorite things about my business is that I get to be a part of lots of other kinds of businesses as I help people organize, systemize, automate, scale and market. I've had some really lovely new clients this year and, sometimes a gal just likes hearing she's a genius. So, thank you new clients who compliment me on my genius! 🙂 This was also a year when people I've known for ages are now clients, which is very cool and definitely cuts down on the “getting to know you” time. I also had a great moment this year, seeing a client I hadn't worked for in about a year. I realized I'd know him for at least eight years now – and that his daughters, who were in pre-school when I met him, are now in middle school. Every time I think about it, and the two other clients I met around the same time that I still work with, it flips me out! I've been a business owner for 11 years and having clients that have been around for eight of those years is pretty darn cool!

If now feels like a good time for me to help you with your business, drop me a note.

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So, it's been a pretty jam-packed and memorable year for my business. There have been downs for sure, but there are been so many great things that happened – and the fact that most of it happened in the last six months is even crazier. Definitely looking forward to next year! If you'd like to keep up with upcoming events and resources that I share, sign up for my email list.