1. Review the past year. Think about what worked for you in 2013 and what did not, then start thinking about what you’d like to do differently in 2014.
2. Set goals for the new year. You might have thought about new goals at the end of 2013–but as you return to the office this year, really think about where you ultimately want to be in your career and set a plan that will get you there.
3. Try for unconventional benefits at work. As the economy improves, companies will be looking for ways to retain their top talent, so try asking for a benefit that you might not have considered before, like a flexible schedule or the option to telecommute.
4. Reinforce your network. Check in with your close clients and co-workers to let them know you’re back from vacation, and catch up on how they spent their holidays.
5. Be crystal clear on your priorities. This will help in decision making when conflicting demands are made of your time and energies.
6. Learn to omit the negative and be positive. Omitting the negative means learning from the inevitable negative experiences you will encounter without dwelling on them or letting them consume the valuable real estate in your head.
7. Jump back in. If you’re lucky, you were able to take a vacation and spend time with loved ones over the holidays. Now it’s time to come back energized and focused. Use the first few days to follow up on all missed messages and start taking action on reaching your 2014 career goals.
8. Do an audit of your current job. Ask yourself: What do I love about my job? What would I change if I could? What are my road bumps or bottlenecks? How can those be eliminated or improved? What are my goals for 2014?
9. Try to enhance your brand so that it stays fresh. In this era of constant innovation and technological advancement, everyone is now on ‘Internet time,’ even when they are offline. If your brand is on out dated, it will be perceived just as that.
Do your best to stay positive and work hard, this is going to be a great year!!
Thank you for reading.