Sourena’s Take:

Last week’s topic was about winding down the yea We have been busy planning for the new year. I’m guessing my buddies love the new year because they own gyms and January is the best month.

I’m writing this after I got home with my wife and baby boy Tyler Christmas shopping. I often play hooky from work to help run errands, but I find that I’m more creative when I am out and about. But I digress. I find myself reflecting on what I really want in life and business and I am trying to not make the same mistakes that I did in the past. I am in constant communication with my partners to kick off the new year with abandon. I could wait until the second week of January to start the process, but why wait? For me, it’s a good time to get inspired and to plan without the constraints of a new year. I am still going to enjoy the holidays with my family, but in the meantime, I am going to continue the dialogue with my partners, meet with my other team members, like the wonderful Kristi whose helping me with marketing and this post.

I just wanted to say that you should enjoy the wonderful holiday, but in the meantime, take the time to get a head start on the new year. Ask what you want out of 2016, write down some goals and brainstorm some steps to make 2016 the best year ever.

Marty’s Take:

As I take a moment to reflect back on 2015, I have to say it’s been a pretty awesome year. Even though I often feel like I am spinning my wheels and not making the progress I wish I was making, the opposite is actually true. 2015 is the year that I was able to buy the building that my business is in, become a landlord to 13 tenants, literally double the size of my gym business, partner up with some of my closest friends in a consulting business, and I’m now in the process of purchasing a house. I also decided to make time for the hobbies and interests in my life that I’ve been putting off because “I don’t have time.” I started taking jazz piano lessons and working on my salsa dancing skills… because you never know when you’re going to need to dance! :) Needless to say, there is never a dull moment in my life, and that’s a good thing!

2015 also brought about the loss of a couple of classmates and it really made me take stock of what’s important in life, and the reality that whether we like it or not, our days on this earth are numbered, so make the most of it while we’re here! Everyday I find myself setting bigger and bolder goals, and driving to do more and more. None of this would be possible without the love and support of family, friends, and mentors helping me along the way. Remember that success doesn’t just “happen". Because it happens “because” of you and the actions and effort that you put forth TODAY. "All the Way or No Way” is the mantra I live by these days…there is no in between. So as I wind down 2015, I’m really just winding up for an incredible 2016, and I hope the people reading this are too!

Chris’s Take:

How do I wind down at the end of the year? I don’t! I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. I don’t believe in starting Monday. I believe that successful people operate in the now. I’ve worked in the health and fitness industry for well over twenty years. Unsuccessful people flock to gyms in January, and are nowhere to be found by February. Successful people who lead an active lifestyle go to the gym all year. The “regulars” actually get annoyed during the first few weeks of the year, dealing with the rush of “resolutions" taking up space in the gym. Only about 8% of people who make New Year’s resolutions actually keep them. So what does that mean? Like I said before, it means that New Year’s resolutions simply don’t work, and that motivated people are motivated all the time. I work and grind all year long. That’s just how I’m wired.

That being said, I do shift my mindset a little bit over the holidays when the new year is coming. I look back on the past year to see what I have accomplished. This past year was pretty good. The Sourena V. Group is on fire and growing like crazy. My health club remained profitable, posting one of the best years to date. My wellness consulting business grew substantially. I did more business as a speaking consultant this past year than in years past. 2015 was a really good, productive, fulfilling year. I traveled. I coached my kids in multiple sports. I worked hard and I played hard.

I also fell a little short in certain areas. I am writing a book and am not as far along as I planned to be. I wanted to launch my new consulting website before year’s end, but it is not quite ready. So while there were a lot of positives, there were still some things that I didn’t accomplish.

So what I do at the end of the year is two-fold. I first look at what I accomplished and what I did to accomplish it. I look at where I fell short and why that happened. I use this valuable data to strengthen good habits and correct bad ones. I put more of what works into my schedule and get rid of what doesn’t. The second thing I do is take time to reflect on the big picture. I try and work more on my business than in my business. It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day tasks and forget to take the time to distance yourself and plan for the future. Although I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, come December, I reflect on the past, and plan for the future. One last important thing, I always take a few moments to close my eyes, take a deep breath and appreciate everything I’ve done to get where I am, and how everything I’ve done gives me a new high level increased sense of potential!

Happy holidays to all! May 2016 be your best year to date!