As we come to the end of 2009, I am amazed at how many people I have witnessed blossom, persevere, grow, evolve, have courage and stayed focused on what is important to them and what they want to achieve. Despite some ups and downs from their own personal challenges as well as the influence of the economy and other factors, my clients have found employment or created their own businesses, uncovered new sources of income; have found love; have re-claimed their spirituality; have launched their children and then re-discovered new meaning and purpose for the next phase of their lives. I am blessed to have been on their journeys with them, as they have all found their own authenticity and moved through their transitions with grace, openness, determination and creative solutions.

Here are some accomplishments of the people I worked with this year. An empowered individual...

• Re-defined her true values and then changed some areas of her life to be true to herself.

• Left the corporate world to pursue a new holistic career that allows for more freedom and flexibility.

• Started a new financial consulting business.

• Got promoted to the 1st female Vice President in her firm.

• Generated new sources of revenue without having a "job." 

• Created more intimacy and joy with her spouse by learning to be happier with herself, by letting go of past resentments and by creating consistent playful date nights.

• Learned to use her voice and speak up, everywhere!

• Asked for a raise and got it!

• Used the unemployment period to explore a creative side and consider generating revenue from several sources, realizing the corporate world is not the next best step.

• Led an organization to receive top honors in her industry.

• Opened a graphic design firm.

• Expanded her current business for long-term growth and expansion.

• Built up her self-esteem and self confidence from within herself.

• Got the courage to leave an unhappy marriage.

• Re-enrolled in school to get a higher degree to increase her earning power and complete something that was started 20 years ago.

• Created a premier women's networking group.

• Re-balanced and re-prioritized work and home life which led to more joy and happiness.

I invite you to celebrate your successes and see the good in what you have achieved in 2009. To get started, you can print out an Excavive Coaching Exercise called "Excavate Your Accomplishments."  I challenge you to find 50 things you have achieved in 2009... and don't forget to give thanks where it is needed.

For those of you who still have unfulfilled goals, dreams and desires, I encourage you to boldly move forward and get the support and tools needed to do so. Coaching is one way to create momentum for what you want to achieve. But no matter who or how you engage, please consider some of the common traits my clients used to grasp what they wanted. They...

• made a decision to move forward;

• integrated their values into as many areas of their lives as possible;

• continue to evolve into a better version of themselves;

• are not settling for less than they deserve;

• keep going even when it is scary, uncomfortable and hard;

• practice new tools and consider new perspectives with each situation life brings to them;

• are learning to trust themselves; and

• are tapping into their own personal resources of passion, developed skills and creativity.

All of these traits have impacted their triumphs; especially the ability to tap into their creativity... a key ingredient for success. To learn more about how YOU can tap into your imaginative self, I invite you to read this month's Evolve column on creativity.

A final note, I wish you for each of you peace, joy, love and happiness during this Holiday season. And, my hope is that you will move towards an even better 2010 with empowered fortitude to BE your best YOU and embrace all aspects of your creative self. My newsletter next month will begin a monthly series on "Powering Up Your Purpose."