Hello and Happy New Year! I’m hoping you had a wonderful holiday and that the new year has been treating you well.

A year in review…

2015 was incredible. After a tumor, facial paralysis, broken foot, eye surgery, radiation, and more in 2014, I was ready for some goodness to head my way. And it did, big time! We started with a sold out live event in January, followed by a very belated honeymoon in Tulum, Mexico. I had speaking events all over the US, Canada, Mexico, and Malaysia, and we sold almost 10,000 books!

I was excited to be featured on multiple news and morning shows, get interviewed on ESPN radio, and have articles featured in over a dozen publications, including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Success Magazine and so many others!

I was honored to Emcee the 2015 NAMI walk and have a portion of all book proceeds go to them to support education, advocacy and awareness for mental illness. And I achieved a bucket list item of being a TEDx speaker (still waiting for the video!)

So far 2016 has started off with a bang. I had my first article published in Entrepreneur Magazine, and by the end of the month, I will have spoken to almost 2,000 teachers and educators!

But more than anything, I am thankful that my family is happy and healthy.

What I learned…

It’s important to know that I don’t tell you all of these things to toot my own horn. In 2014, I was really down. My  outlook was bleak, and I felt a bit hopeless. I talked myself into being a victim, when in reality, I was a volunteer. We do not have to be a victim of our circumstances. We have the power to change our mindset and our life!

While I’m not a huge fan of resolutions, I love getting to start fresh, setting challenging goals for myself, and dreaming about what’s possible throughout the year. For instance, I’m working on my second book. It’s about courage, resilience, and triumph.  So I’m visualizing it being written and done. What does the cover look like? How is it organized and what are the key take aways for readers? The more specific I get the more clear it becomes in my mind.

That Sounds Great. But Now What?

Start by making a dream board, visualize what you want, and muster up the courage and faith to forge ahead. Sometimes, when we’re not happy where we are, it’s easy to want to give up. Instead, if we focus on our vision of the future, have faith, and work hard, everything can turn around. If you’re not happy with where you are, paint a vision of where you want to go and create a plan to get there. The more specific you can get, the better. What’s fuzzy now will emerge with clarity later.

Take a few moments to start your year off right:

  • What are you grateful for?
  • What successes did you have in 2015?
  • Where do you want to be at this time next year?
  • What is your plan to get there?

If we don’t take time to think about these things, time flies by, and we end up where we are headed. Celebrate your wins, let your losses be a thing of the past, and focus on the good things in your life.Wishing you peace, health, and happiness in the new year! Make 2016 the best year yet!

12 Comments

  1. Anne, I have followed you through the years. When I first met you, you were still working for someone else. I am very sorry for all that you have had to go through in 2014. But I know you, and I know that “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” You have demonstrated that you have resilience and strength. I so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. Glad to hear that you had your honeymoon, and in such a wonderful place. Best of luck to you in 2016 and “way to go” as your career just takes off with a flying leap of faith. Kay

    • Kay! So good to hear from you. I remember our chats 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to write! I’d love to come back and work with the team there. You guys are awesome!

  2. Anne Grady, I have watched you and your work closely these past few years and I know one thing for sure—you are a remarkable human being. Remarkable people often go through trials that are unimaginable to most of us mere mortals. But in the end, you will draw to you triumphant outcomes and the best life has to offer. I’ll be right here to cheer you on! Here’s to 2016!

  3. For being an inspiration. It appears that you and I had similar experiences in 2014-15, sans the facial paralysis and broken foot. Reading that now, and knowing that you continued to build your enterprise with that happening in the background is amazing. It inspires me that I can continue treatment and build my business in the process. May God continue to bless you and all that concerns you.

  4. Wow! I am so impressed by your courage and know that most people who would be faced with what you have in your life might have crumbled. I am awed by your successes and most importantly, spurred on when I read your blog. Here’s to more successes! You deserve them!

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