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Last year I found myself wading through the river of days with my head barely above water, struggling to figure out where my business was taking me. This year will be different. This year I already have a good aerial view of the plans I want to bring to fruition. But then again, who knows what surprises I will find along the way in 2008 . . .

As a small business owner and a coach to other business owners, part of my intention is to let go of my plans and goals just enough to see the surprises that come along and preempt my carefully laid intentions. These are surprises that can cause my plans to turn out better than I ever could have imagined. In other words, one of my goals for 2008 is to get out of my own way and listen more closely to my intuitive nudges.

I am also a dreamer and planner, and I love to write To Do lists. I enjoy checking off items as I go through each day. I have to admit, however, I get distracted and some of my To Do's don't get done. Interestingly enough, it doesn't seem to matter. Time has a way of changing our perceived priorities, mostly for the better.

If you are like me, with lots of goals and intentions on your agenda for this New Year, you may find it all too easy to start out excited and end up on an entirely different path than you anticipated. Instead of getting discouraged and beating yourself up for not sticking to your well intended goals, I invite you to look from a higher perspective.

This just might be the year for you to release your preconceived idea of what you should be doing, and instead let your life become one of looking for surprises. These surprises may come from expected and unexpected sources. All you have to do is trust those gut feelings you have every day, and follow where they lead. You know - the ones that tell you to do exactly the opposite of what you had planned.

For those of you who can't resist planning, I'll give you five questions to ponder as you begin this baby new year.

1. What is the thing you are most excited about accomplishing this year?

2. Who must you be, what kind of person must you become, in order to be or do what you most want to accomplish?

3. What must you release that will allow you to be or do number 1?

4. What must you allow into your life to be or do number 1?

5. What help or support do you need?

Taking the time to answer these five thought provoking questions will tickle your mind and challenge you to get clear on what you really want 2008 to look like. But the answers don't have to be all inclusive -- rather let the answers be a fuzzy beginning, a way for you to point yourself in a general direction that is always open to bigger and better surprises.

When you're writing your Master To Do list for 2008, don't forget to add -- look for the fabulous surprises that come from being open to listening to and taking action on your intuitive nudges, even though they may prompt you to move in a surprising direction. This intuition is always available to you whether you are traveling, in a client meeting, or treating yourself to some quiet sanity time. All you have to do is take a few moments to stop, listen, and take inspired action based on the guidance you receive.

Setting your business and personal goals and planning out the New Year always sounds good in the beginning. But this year, why not fasten your seatbelt and choose to experience the indescribably powerful things that can happen to your life and your business when you're open to acting on unexpected surprises.