Buried under my chocolate duvet, I peek my head and hands out just enough for the light of my laptop to guide this entry. So here we are. Just you and me.

Oh, before I forget..Happy New Year!!

Traditionally, a new year means honing in on our visions and professing the bravery we’ll unleash on our goals. Sometimes we tell the world, sometimes we simply tell ourselves. Ever since NYE the days seem to have rolled into nights and rested in the lap of the weekend.  Now, we’re riding the wave of week two, already. No more games – there is still time to make plans for an epic year.  Below, I’ve listed a few things I think would be helpful in launching your year.

1. PLAN OF ACTION

Take a look back, document your past accomplishments and/or disappointments and create a new strategy to move forward. “How?” you ask. Of the suggestions sent my way, I found one to be most effective in starting my year with intent and productivity. Check out  MVMT’s 2012 New Year Guide and jump on your journey of intention setting. MVMT is an org you should definitely  be familiar with if you aren’t. They’re a a dope collective of artists, entrepreneurs and organizers on a mission to promote the arts, social entrepreneurship, and collective empowerment.  Those three pillars resonate with me…hopefully they’ll sing to you too. Take a look at the short video below and be sure to download (and complete!) the new year guide…it’s an exciting way to jumpstart your year. Trust me. Join me.

MVMT New Year Guide Trailer (2012 Edition) from MVMT on Vimeo.

2. A GO-TO TEAM:

Sam Davidson, speaker, writer, and dreamer, says get a sage, mentor, and muse to push you along your journey. While the creative muse and guiding mentor are more well known figures, I found the concept of a sage to be fascinating. A sage can be living or dead, and their main purpose is to share some of the wisdom they hold. They speak and guide from experience. Not only are they academically clever, but they have street smarts and swagger in tow.  ”What you get from them is insight that has been tested in the same crucible you’re in.” Now, I have to work on getting all three. What about you?

3. ACTIVATE YOUR VISION:

So you want to generate/solidify your ideas and see them come to life? I’m generally a journal/calendaring kinda gal. If I write down my goals isn’t that enough? Since when is “enough” sufficient for magic makers? For the first time I’m going to make a vision board, a collage of images of things/people/ideas I want to see materialize in my life. I started flipping through an Essence magazine looking for key words to clip for my board. I realized ordinary headlines started finding their way into the cutouts for my vision board. “Smart,” “News & Culture,” “Wealth,” and  ”Blessed” to name a few were words that started resonating beyond their place on the magazine page. I haven’t finished my board because I only had one magazine. Seriously, I’m not making excuses. I’m finishing it this week. If
 you want to activate your vision board in the midst of other creative folks there is an event you should attend. Urban Suite PR, partnered with We Work  will be hosting the 2012 vision board party entitled, “The Dream is Real.” It’s a combo of networking, entertainment and entrepreneurship.  It will be lead by life coach/author, Nathan Seven Scott and will be a space  for  conversation, declarations and synergy to dance together.  Are you going? RSVP here.

4. GET MINTY WITH YOUR GREEN

Did you think I was going to let you off easy with all the fun tips? No way. I’m an avid believer in the power of Mint.com when it comes to money management. I’m the first to admit I hate getting those email reminders saying “you’ve went over your dining out budget by $113.78″ or “You just got hit with a finance charge” or “Your student loan is due in 3 days.” Ugh, Mint, why don’t you leave me alone? I get it – you want me to take control of my finances, I’m on it. Seriously,  It’s free and does everything for you. Sign up here!

XO,

SAH