1. Remembering that happiness is your end game. Of all the retirees I've met, the happiest are those who treated their businesses and their lives as a journey of discovery. Instead of stopping progress when roadblocks appear, simply decide on the best action you can take and take it. Your willingness to deal with all obstacles and frustrations, no matter what, provides the confidence and strength you need to create success in the real world.
   
   
2. Letting your passion rule. You will face many choices during the last couple months of the year. You will be tugged in one direction by social obligations and a desire to connect with your loved ones and in another by your desire to keep your business thriving. Focus on the big picture and let your passion tell you where to focus. You don't have to work 24 hours a day. You just have to work on what's most important to you.
   
   
3. Creating specific short-term action steps to accomplish your goals. The world changes so quickly that your long-term goals will be altered as you learn what works and what doesn't. Break your larger tasks into action items that you can accomplish in short time frames. Write down your goal and then state actions you can take right now to start the process of achieving it. Taking action contributes to frequent successes and increased motivation.
   
   
4. Developing a "To Do" list nightly. Write down all the action items that you want to achieve the next day. Then prioritize them. Don't set yourself up for failure by putting too much on your list. Relax and think about your bigger picture. What's most important and what can you let go? Follow your To Do list each day and recognize that you're accomplishing the most important stuff.
   
   
5. Realizing you don't have to do this alone. Achieve your maximum productivity on a given day and most tasks will soon become routine. Share your list with others and ask for help. You can hire an administrative person or a family member, even once a week, to take care of the routine tasks (invoicing, collecting payments) so you can concentrate on growing your business.

Success comes as you continue to build momentum through consistent effort. Following the five action steps above will relieve your stress and allow you to be a successful entrepreneur, friend, and person during any frustrating time of year.