Kicking back in a hotel somewhere in the great Midwest, I was listening to some 70’s tunes and the Styx classic “Best of Times”. One line struck me as being both negative and true. Negative in the feeling of hopelessness yet true in the sense that putting your head in the sand and “giving up” ---well, that’s the end of paradise. 2011 is rapidly coming to a close and 2012 is now upon us.

So…how was your year? For your family? Your business? Professionally, mine is shifting into 5th gear as business owners are gearing up for a robust 2012. But you know…as entrepreneurs we are never really truly happy as things could always be better. We’re always searching for ways to improve. And while you may not be a business owner, all of you are entrepreneurs – just maybe not in the traditional sense. You may have a great business proposition…a new venture… or simply a creative idea to make things better.

Can’t recall where I read this gem about goal setting, but it’s true… “When you write down very specific goals, your subconscious mind works to make them a reality.”

This is best explained by the Airport Public Address Theory. As you wait at the gate or walk through the terminals, you know airports have one announcement after another: last call for a flight or paging yours truly, Harry Bryan. For the most part this becomes white noise to our brains. However, the time your name, destination city or flight number is called, your ears perk up. This is our subconscious brain at work. Well, guess what? It works exactly the same for goals. In my business, the pest season becomes quiet in the winter -- particularly in Chicago. So everything I do now is for April and May of 2012. Doing nothing today ---- means selling nothing in May.

On a more personal note, this has been an interesting year for me. A change in roles and responsibilities as well as taking over a new region after spending my whole career in the deep South. Evangelizing the message and building a new region from scratch has its challenges but the rewards are so worth it. Being a southern boy with my own twang and love of barbecue makes me a novelty "up there". Of course, I accentuate the quirkiness and play it to the hilt, but I'm growing extremely fond of the region. I just need to remind myself to pack a winter coat. Des Moines had 4 inches of snow...but when I left Powell earlier in the week it was 60 degrees.

I guess sometimes when you make goals or a bucket list, completing them seems far from reality. But oftentimes, when you least expect it, the goal may find YOU. Just be ready to respond when it does. As I am busy with my 2012 goals, be sure to write yours down as well. It’ll at least get your subconscious mind working continuously thinking about them. I promise you they’ll come true.

So…what’s your impact going to be in 2012?

Soli Deo Gloria,