Oh yes.....it's that time of year again when we can take a moment to reflect. For entrepreneurs particularly, it comes down the the end of our fiscal year. As we sit by the tree tallying up all of our receipts for gas mileage, hotel rentals and other expenses, we begin to look at our progress throughout the past year and think; "Was this a good idea?" Was that trip to this conference effective?" "Was my meeting in LA productive?" And the list goes on. 

Even deeper than reflecting on the entrepreneurial baggage, when the ball in Times Square and around the world drops to bring us into 2013, we affirm so many positive resolutions that we intend to carry. New principles and relationships that we create based on our reflections from the previous year, which ended the day before. So full of joy as we toast with the bubbly that this New Year will be our year. We assert the promises of building a bigger and better business with our new resolutions with the hope that we will keep our promise. But with every new year on January 1, three weeks later tends to start to sound stale. As if the first 90 days into the beginning of the year will dictate the rest of year.  We stop talking about the new year and move into business survival mode. 

We are just a few days away from embarking on a new year. For many entrepreneurs, every year brings new promise and new hopes for growth in business. I asked a few entrepreneurs to share the lessons they learned in 2012 and what they want other entrepreneurs to take from the experiences, good & bad, of 2012 and how to make progress in 2013.
1. Confidence Is Crucial!I transitioned from employee to entrepreneur this year. As an employee I was used to getting accolades and recognition - it's a confidence boost. Stepping out into the ocean of solopreneurs and entrepreneurs, you need the confidence to come from within. The lesson for me and others is to accept validation from others, but not be driven by it. There are times when you will have to champion your ideas, your business, your brand whether other people get it or not.

Thanks to Tai Goodwin of Launch While Working

2. Release, Declare And DecreeAs a christian visionary leader, empowerment speaker, and a multi-tasking mompreneur to 7 children. I've learned many things in 2012. Everyday has been a unique learning experience. I woud like to share something learned that will take you beyond measures in your life and as an entrepreneur. It is human nature to tolerated things and people, but if you want to grow, you have to release your divine decree for your life. You have to set a decree like you set a goal.

Thanks to Pamela Almond Hope of Empowerment For Success Personal Development and Business Services

3. Keep PushinI learned that just because God told you to do it, doesn't mean things are going to work out neatly and in order. If you read up on successful people they have mostly all went through a trial and tribulations. I learned to keep on pushin no matter how hard it got. Its Not over until you WIN!!!

Thanks to Terri Clay of Terri L Clay Enterprises

4. Don't Reveal All Your Entrepreneurial Secrets!You always learn new things even if you are a seasoned entrepreneur. I recently hired an intern to help me with my social media marketing. I provided her with tips on getting clients, ways to work efficiently and other business "secrets". Well, before I knew it she started her own business as competition to mine, and then wanted to charge me 3 times more for the same services. I learned a valuable lesson -- do not give away all your secrets when you hire someone -- they may become a competitor!

Thanks to Diane Castro of Young at Heart Communications, LLC

5. Taking Care Of Business = Taking Care Of METhis was a year rife with lots of UPs and DOWNs - primarily due to health challenges. I found that the more active and "successful" I became in the business - and the more I put aside my fitness goals, quiet reflection time, or time with family and friends because of it, the more likely I was to have a DOWN period afterwards. I'd get sick, injure my back, or not properly recover from a simple cold. In 2013 I'd encourage everyone to take time to take care of themselves FIRST, no matter what!

Thanks to Karen Clark of My Business Presence

6. Actions First...Feelings Follow!Actions First…Feelings Follow! If you feel that you aren’t where you want to be today, take action. Tomorrow will be no different from today if you do the same things you’ve always done. That old classic definition of insanity comes to mind here: doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results. Change happens TO you, transformation happens WITHIN. You may not feel like trying something different, do it anyway…your feelings will follow.

Thanks to Kelley Moore of See Your Possibilities

7. The Proper Way To NetworkOften times we all go out & exchange business cards or set up a website, then sit back & wonder why we do not have more business. The one thing that has been retaught to me in 2012 is the wonder of proper networking & the exchange of business referrals. Looking back in October I helped others do over a total of $350,000 of business conducted with none of this being with our company. So why do it? Have since been in various magazines for free which in turn will be an even bigger payoff in 2013!

Thanks to Tonie Boaman of Dash Notary, LLC

8. Anything You Create,you Must Be Willing To Tolerate.I've learned that quality is far more better than quanity. I have alwsys felt that
If you had more people supporting you then the more you would
have. I have now come to realize that I didn't need Devine connections only Covenant connections. There is.such a big difference. Devine Connections limits you from developing a relationship with others,but Covenant connections gives you friends and confidants for life.

Thanks to Phyllis Smart of Next level living

9. Merry-Go-Round No More... There comes a time in everyone's life when you decide its time to change EVERYTHING.
Nothing makes this more relevant that the dizzying ride of the same thing over and over. Stagnation is smothering.
This years end has allowed me a significant opportunity to embrace a change, a strategic model / formula for my success. I have leaped off the merry-go-round and plunged into a journey of reinvention and investment in myself...and My dream...EnVoi will prevail!
2013 is the year of getting paid!

Thanks to Dianne C Lemon of EnVoi Boutique

10. Implement NOW, Perfect LATERWhat I learned in 2013 was that to keep moving your feet NO MATTER WHAT! Don't let anything or lack of anything hold you back. EVERYTHING you need to be successful will be delivered to you if you just follow your faith and NOT your fear. I was able to get over my need to be a perfectionists in favor of execution. Not that I was never afraid, but that I made sure I kept my fear in check, followed my heart and chased my dreams. If I had to do it over I wouldn't do a thing differently. Now GO!

Thanks to Dawniel Patterson Winningham of Dawniel Patterson Winningham INTL

11. Your Community Reflects Who You Are, Choose WiselyThis year has been an incredibly busy year - writing my new book The Right T-Shirt and creating new online products but I would have never done it without the support of a great business community. So my tip for 2013 is to find yourself a supportive community who will back you all the way with whatever you want to achieve in 2013. People who not only think like you but also are willing to share information that is for the mutual good of all the community. We can't do this alone so don't!

Thanks to Jessica McGregor Johnson of jessicamcgregorjohnson.com

12. You Can't Want It More Than Your Client!I'm so passionate about supporting entrepreneurs in shining their light brighter than sometimes I want their success more than they do. It's a hard lesson - to see people's brilliance, obscured by 'paper dragon' obstacles and have to stand by while they try to figure out that they are focusing on their shadow instead of their light - the one that's CAUSING the shadow! My role is to hold the light so they can see their own... I am honored to do so. May they each do so in right timing. :+)

Thanks to Lynn Scheurell of Creative Catalyst

13. Simplify & Focus!We're all hit with 1001 different ways to market your business, be the next big name, etc. What I've seen more than anything is that with all these wonderful options, we get paralyzed and end up trying to do 100 things a little bit instead of being fully committed to just a small handful of great projects.

By spending your time and energy on being GREAT at one or two things, instead of "ok" on 50 we can really see massive forward movement in our businesses.

Simplification is the new cool!

Thanks to Ely Delaney of Your Marketing University

14. Letting Go Of Keeping Up!What I learned best in 2012 was the importance of what I call "Stopping the World" - early in the year - I had a huge personal crisis with my son that took a ton out of me energetically and emotionally and as the "Golden Goose" in my business who was down on my knees I needed to just stop everything for a while and regroup. Taking a two month retreat to the mountains & lake was just the Medicine that I needed to rejuvenate and come back into my world renewed. Self care is now my top prior

Thanks to Amethyst Wyldfyre of The Empowered Messenger

And Carol Sankar with The Millionaire Mindset Entrepreneurship Program™ for letting me repost this great information so all of us could glean this information!