Looking Ahead to an Excellent 2016

As we now put 2015 in the rear view we have time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. You may have spent some time last night, or will do so this weekend, in reflecting with family and friends. You may make a list of resolutions to make this year better than past years. Whatever those resolutions are don’t just let them be a random list of hopefuls that may last a month or two, but set priorities that you will accomplish.

In looking at accomplishing things we need to be engaged and interested. We want to avoid just putting together a list of boxes to check that will go by the wayside when life gets hard or we become disinterested. If we set priorities and engage with them often they go from dreams to reality to habit to character. Once an item is engrained in our character it becomes true reality. Over the course of the past year I have improved in my personal education through reading more, finding mindfulness through meditation and prayer and seizing opportunities as a father. This past year was full of adventure and learning for my entire family. I look forward to 2016 as an opportunity to take that to the next level. I look forward to exposing my children to more of the greatness this world has to offer. I will get outside more. We will do more.

In 2013 I summitted 25+ peaks, 20 of which stood over 10,000 feet in elevation. I plan to best that this upcoming year. The process of these summits was one of my great experiences in life. The journey and accomplishment brought me to places that I never before had been and exposed me to great challenges, adventures and memories. I look forward to more in this upcoming year.

“I just sit in my office and read all day.” ? Warren Buffet

I will step up my game in reading. Over this past year I have read 5 books cover to cover. This upcoming year I will read at least one book per month. This is on track to soon reading a book a week in a coming year. Many great leaders and minds have recited the importance of reading. Reading increases our intelligence. Intelligence brings about greater success.

I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think. That is very uncommon in American business. I read and think. So I do more reading and thinking, and make less impulse decisions than most people in business. I do it because I like this kind of life.? ? Warren Buffett

Lastly, in the upcoming year I want to serve and give back more. Both on the lands that I enjoy and to the youth who need to be exposed to the outdoors. I look forward to teaching and helping others to learn more about what we have been given.

I believe that when we die we get to take three things with us and they are not money, things or fame. I believe that they are family, intelligence and the memories we have in mortality. I want my life to more abundantly align with these three things.

I hope that each of you have an acceptional year this year. How do you plan to make it great?