<p>&nbsp;</p> <p>One week left and counting, soon 2010 will be one for the record books.&nbsp; For many the last week of the year is looked at as a lost week.&nbsp; Holiday vacations, factory shut downs, and kids home from school for Winter break combine to slow the workday pace. </p> <p><a href="http://new.corepurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/december-teams.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:inline;padding-top:0;border-width:0;margin:5px;" title="December Teams" border="0" alt="December Teams" src="http://new.corepurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/december-teams_thumb.jpg" width="281" height="211"></a></p> <p>I always look forward to the last week of the year, not for a break but for that last minute push to end things with a bang.&nbsp;&nbsp; It has always worked for me.&nbsp; Years ago, as a sales person, the last week of the year was when I often got my biggest orders.&nbsp; I would call my customers to see who was around. It never failed, somebody always had something on their desk that need to be handled before year end, and I was happy to help them get it taken care of.&nbsp;&nbsp; Later in my career, as a new CEO, I spent a week alone in the office going through binders full of dusty files that has been left behind by past leaders. In them I found a forgotten resource that, once we dusted it off and tuned it up, became our organization's biggest differentiator that year.&nbsp; </p> <p><strong>5 Tips for making the most of the last week of the year</strong></p> <ol> <li><strong>Make a list of what worked best this year</strong> – and what did not do as well.&nbsp; Think about how you can make the most of your good ideas and let go of the duds.  <li><strong>Do a little outreach</strong>.&nbsp; Call customers, email someone you worked with this year and thank them for their help, find that forgotten college roommate and reconnect.&nbsp; You never know how a simple conversation can lead to a new opportunity.  <li><strong>Take some time to learn more about you.</strong>&nbsp; There are lots of one line tools available to&nbsp; give you insight into what you do best.&nbsp; Many of them are free or relatively in expensive. One of my favorites is the Kolbe A by <a href="http://www.kolbe.com">Kolbe Corp</a>.&nbsp; It’s a great way to find insights on how you can be more effective in doing what you do.  <li><strong>Do a little research.</strong>&nbsp; As you lay out plans&nbsp; for 2011, don’t forget to do your homework. A little research can go a long way in firming up that new idea.&nbsp; Libraries are quiet this time of year and a great place to escape from the holiday bustle.&nbsp; To cold to go out?&nbsp; Try some creative&nbsp; Google searches to see what the hot trends are around your BIG idea.  <li><strong>Ask questions.</strong>&nbsp; Survey tools from <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/static?key=research_landing&amp;trk=hb_ft_resnet">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com">Survey Monkey</a> can help you find&nbsp; out what your partners or customers think about a current or future product or service.&nbsp; Ask them what they think.&nbsp; You just might find the answer you are searching for. </li></ol> <p>So, don’t just sit there in a Christmas Cookie coma.&nbsp; Use this last week of the year to&nbsp; look back and get ready to move forward.&nbsp; There are opportunities waiting for you in 2011, and now is the time to&nbsp; get ready to capture them.</p> <h4><strong>Thanks for stopping by.&nbsp; Stay tuned....</strong></h4> <p>I'll be sharing more tips to help you get ready for 2011 throughout the month of December. </p> <p>And for all of the friends who have visited here, chatted with me on Twitter, have&nbsp; worked along side me in projects, or just dropped me a line or made a call to say hello, THANK YOU&nbsp; and best wishes for a&nbsp; very happy and hopeful holiday season and a 2011 filled with opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <blockquote> <p><em>Joan Koerber-Walker</em></p></blockquote> <p><strong>About the Joan: </strong></p> <p><a href="http://jkw.typepad.com/.a/6a01053650f43d970c013489b143d5970c-pi"><img style="margin:0 10px;" border="0" alt="Koerber-Walker-056" align="left" src="http://jkw.typepad.com/.a/6a01053650f43d970c013489b143e3970c-pi" width="83" height="103"></a> An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, <a href="http://jkw.typepad.com/www.linkedin.com/in/joankoerberwalker">Joan Koerber-Walker's</a> journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits, as well as into community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C.&nbsp;&nbsp; To learn more about how CorePurpose and the CoreAlliance can help you grow your business in 2011, you can contact her by clicking <a href="http://corepurpose.com/contact.html">here</a>. </p> <h6>CorePurpose&nbsp; is a registered trademark of CorePurpose, Inc.&nbsp; CoreAlliance is a&nbsp; service mark of CorePurpose Inc.&nbsp; All rights reserved</h6> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p> <div style="display:inline;float:none;margin:0;padding:0;" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:456cbb3c-9a72-4423-a387-645574d9cdb5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Joan+Koerber-Walker" rel="tag">Joan Koerber-Walker</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CorePurpose" rel="tag">CorePurpose</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Business+Tips" rel="tag">Business Tips</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Getting+ready+for+2011" rel="tag">Getting ready for 2011</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Entrepreneurs" rel="tag">Entrepreneurs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Growth+in+2011" rel="tag">Growth in 2011</a></div></p>