There is something really special about a New Year.

After New Year's Eve parties filled with family and friends passing out champagne and singing "Auld Lang Syne" comes New Year's Day.  And if you are like me, maybe you take some quiet time on the morning of New Year's Day, open up the new calendar and put all of your important dates - birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, concerts - into the appropriate box.  It's amazing the things we have to look forward to in a year.  It's a whole new book that hasn't been written yet, and the possibilities are endless.

New Year's Day is also an excellent time to reflect on resolutions and what you can do to achieve those resolutions.  If you haven't made a resolution yet, you still can.  It's only Jan. 3rd after all.  I won't share my specific resolutions, but each of my resolutions will contribute to me becoming better in in 2017 than I was in 2016.

So, as we return to work today, and try to remember to date things with 2017, take some time to think about what can make you and your company better in 2017 than it was in 2016.  Perhaps you'll resolve to respond to emails quicker, or to walk to your teammate's desk to get that question answered.  Or, maybe 2017 means it is time to share that idea you have been too nervous to share with your manager, that idea that could help move the company forward.  Maybe in 2017, you want to spend time getting to know more about your co-workers and customers and building up a camaraderie and trust.

Whatever you resolve for 2017, commit to it for the full year.  Challenge yourself.  You can do anything you set your mind to.  There is something really special about a New Year.