New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, looking forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make, and resolve to follow through on those changes. Did your New Year resolutions make our top 10 list?

1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends: Work shouldn't always come first.
2. Fit in Fitness: Exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look good.
3. Tame the Bulge: Commit to shed those extra pounds. www.livestrong.com
4. Quit Smoking: www.cancer.org. There are many resources to help you kick the habit!
5. Enjoy Life More: Take up a new hobby, visit a spa, and consider new artistic or recreational activities.
6. Quit Drinking: www.aa.org
7. Get Out of Debt: Get your finances in order. It's a promise that will repay itself 10 fold. www.daveramsey.com
8. Learn Something New: Career Change?: www.siriustechnical.com
9. Help Others: Volunteer at your favorite charity or cause. The rewards are life changing.
10. Get Organized: Reduce the clutter in your home and work space and you will find peace.

Maybe you are more of a "Setting Goals" oriented person and setting goals is important. That is how you convert good, but ephemeral, IDEAS into specific, measurable TARGETS. This is not the time to worry about whether or not you can reach these goals. You will have plenty of time for that later. This is the time to "draw the line in the sand" and publicly announce "this is what we are going to do, and this is when we will do it."

If you hate resolutions and setting goals, then just trust the process. This holds true with people who want to change their lives for whatever reason. In the fitness industry it is all about health, so when you decide to make a change and you have 20lbs or 100lbs to lose, what you must do is trust that what you do today will really make a difference in the big picture. All you can do is think about the day at hand. Did you make the proper food choices? Did you make time to exercise? Are you taking responsibility for your actions? Are you in control of your life? Your choices? Just put your mind and your efforts into this day and trust the process, knowing that what you are doing WILL make a difference. You see, everything you do, whether good or bad, produces consequences. Consistency will either improve your quality of life or destroy your quality of life. It depends on what you are consistent with. Working out and making the right food choices produces an energetic, slimmer and happier person but the reverse of that is having Ben & Jerry's each night and not getting off the couch. It will not only ensure your success with gaining weight, but you will also feel so miserable and depressed about yourself. So make that decision today: "BELIEVE in yourself, trust the process and change forever!! But remember, it is up to you to pick the process!  

See www.signaturelives.com for more information on making a change in your life!

1. Visualize what you really want. Zero in on exactly what you want. Then, motivate yourself to get it by vividly imagining what can be -- if you make the necessary changes. To aid with visualization, the authors suggest creating a personal motivation statement -- a powerful phrase or two that is meaningful to you and stirs you to stay on track -- and reciting it whenever you feel like slacking off or are tempted to avoid the behaviors that will lead to greater success. "The first step to changing behavior is to make the distant future more salient, plausible and compelling," Grenny notes.
2. Take time for professional development. Wishing is one thing, action is another. Identify the skills you need to progress in your career. Take classes and seminars accordingly, and read books to expand your expertise. Making yourself more knowledgeable and relevant can open up new opportunities and renew your passion.
3. Associate with hard-workers. Remember your mother worrying about who you hung out with in high school? The company you keep in the workplace can likewise have a negative influence. Distance yourself from the office slackers. The bad attitudes and habits that are keeping you back are likely being enabled, tolerated or encouraged by others. Instead, evoke positive peer pressure by surrounding yourself with hard-working colleagues who share your career goals.   
4. Find a trusted mentor. A good mentor is encouraging, but also honest enough to tell you where you need to improve. A mentor can help you navigate career development opportunities that exist within the organization and point out things you may not see.  
5. Control your workspace. Make productive habits easier by enlisting the power of your surroundings. If you set your schedule back 15 minutes each time you walk past the water cooler, reroute your trips. If you're positioned near a gathering place such as the mailboxes, request a transfer to a less social location. Use your environment to prompt and inspire. An up-to-date calendar, a prioritized to-do list and organized files can greatly increase efficiency and feelings of competency.

Join Sirius Technical Services and Orion Engineering at the American Cancer Society's 23rd Annual Chili Cook-Off presented by TRAX Tire Pros for a spectacular, fun-filled day of food, fun and entertainment! The 23rd Annual Chili Cook-Off is Mobile's "hottest" charity event where teams compete for bragging rights on who has the best chili in town. Proceeds from Chili Cook-Off will be used for cancer programs to teach the importance of early detection and prevention; patient services such as transportation, prosthetics, etc.... and life saving research.

Save the Date!

March 3, 2012

Bienvielle Square

Downtown Mobile, AL

Call or email Susie Bush for more details and how to purchase tickets for this event. 251-443-1166 ext. 107, susie.bush@siriustechnical.com 

Though office work is usually relatively safe compared to other typically dangerous occupations such as firefighting or high rise construction, dangers exist which can create physical injury, headache and chronic illnesses. Providing a safe workplace not only creates a physically healthy working experience for yourself and your employees, it can also make them comfortable and mentally healthy which can lead to increased productivity and efficiency.

New Year, new beginnings and a perfect time to think, act, and respond to safety to continue or begin having a safe workplace and home.

Let's start the New Year off right and think Safety at home and at work.

Chris Jackson was nominated as our January employee of the month. Chris has worked for Sirius for several years on multiple contract positions and he has always been a "star" employee on our customer's list. Our Sirius staff all agree that Chris is very professional and always willing to lend a hand no matter how big the task may be. He also shows this same work ethic in his professional field of design and drafting, which makes him a winner on our list also. Congratulations, Chris and keep up the good work!

The article below from the IRS confirms there will not be a mileage rate change from 55.5 cents per mile for business travel in 2012.

IRS Announces 2012 Standard Mileage Rates, Most Rates Are the Same as in July 

The deadline for employers to mail out W2's is January 31, 2012. If you have an address change please submit it immediately. All W2's will be mailed to the address that we have on file no later than January 31, 2012. Your W2 should reach you before February 15, 2012. If you have not received yours by February 15th, then you may contact kim.guasca@siriustechnical.com and request a new one. We will not reissue a duplicate W2 before February 15, 2012. Thank you!

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