With only 351 days to go till Christmas, you need to plan ahead.

With only 351 days to go till Christmas, you need to plan ahead.

No doubt for many people over Christmas there came a time during watching the repeat of the 1973 Morecombe and Wise Christmas show, where the mind may have somewhat wondered to thinking about work.

Thoughts going through the old grey matter to such an extent that it filled them with so much positivity that for a split moment the whole future and way forward in 2012 seemed crystal clear.

Also the family gatherings over the festive period - who was going where, at what time, for which meal will have caused time for reflection with a majority of comments being at the end of the day “we aren’t doing this again next Christmas!!!”

Quite what some would do as an alternative is uncertain - but comments such as “we’d love to go away” would require a certain amount of planning and with only 351 days to go until the next Christmas, wheels would need to be put in motion!

Presents will have also been a hot topic of conversation over Christmas, with comments such as “I spent thirty quid on their present and they’ve given me this THING – why do I bother?.”

As Christmas has happened at the same time of the year all our lives, and that quite possibly the thoughts and conversations in regards to work, what to do next Christmas and what presents to get will undoubtedly have happened every single year of our adult lives.

So why don’t or can’t we plan?

If we fail to do this for Christmas which is something we know when it’s going to happen for years well in advance - could it be said that we don’t bother or even try to do any planning for our business?

Corny we know but the point we’re raising here is the fact that talk is cheap and often the only person who believes what you're saying is YOU no matter how much the person you're talking to smiles and nods in agreement.

Those close to you such as family switch off to the comments such as “we aren’t doing this again next Christmas” and the “I spent thirty quid on their present and they’ve given me this THING – why do I bother” knowing full well that nothing will change – perhaps just the addition of more comments as the years go by.

We all like to think positive at some point, but it’s the doing and not really the thinking or saying which will provide the results. On New Year’s Day blogs, statuses, and tweets were full of “have an awesome 2012” - “make the next 12 months phenomenal”

Just exactly how will this happen without planning? On top of that does actual shoving a “have an awesome 2012” comment on the internet fill you with the drive and determination to sock it to them….? If it did can we just say that “we hope this year is your most wonderous year yet?”

With only 351 days to go till Christmas are you considering planning ahead? If so why not plan ahead for your business in 2013 while you’re about it - after all 2013 is now only 357 days away and the achievements of Great Britain (or lack of them) in the 2012 Olympics may all be a distant memory.

One thing is for sure we’ll know if all their planning worked or not – but a least they will have given it a good go.

Can the same be said for you?