Looking ahead to 2011, I've come to the same conclusion as Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple and founder of Pixar: "If you look at my life, I've never gotten it right the first time. It always takes me twice," he said.

Jobs has this unfailing consistency-faith that he would figure it all out as he went along-and it would often take a leap of faith to see a vision through to its fruition. Creative, magnetic people who want to make changes have to believe it will all work out in the end and be ready to put their boots into the stirrups, hold on for a wild ride and make it to the finish line.

Aiming for this kind of perseverance at Gracefully Yours, it has helped us to look forward and backward to connect the dots. We've found past lessons to be incredibly helpful in writing future business plans.

As you grow wiser with experience, you will recognize that there is a big gap in knowing stuff versus implementing knowledge successfully. A wise man once said, "Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power."

Consider the Pareto Principle. Around 1900, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto observed a pattern of how wealth and income were distributed in Europe. At that time, 80% of the income in Italy went to only 20% of the people. Pareto's 80/20 rule has led to interesting quotes from the likes of Woody Allen, who said, "80% of success is showing up."

In practicing the Pareto Principle, our team recently provided brand-management consultation to one of America's leading artists of flowers and barns. We suggested that she understand the rule relative to why consumers love her art, leading her to discover what she was doing right to earn the respect and loyalty of a large following. By asking a few questions about her effectiveness, she now has a refined game plan and knows it will not take 8,000 images across 10 categories to be extremely effective. Rather, her plan focuses on "attacking with her strongest assets ... the art the people love most and are willing to pay for during the recession."

As you approach the coming year, spark change by building on the success of 2010. Look carefully at the changes you implemented in the last year and how your team embraced them.

Openly discuss your strengths and vulnerabilities. Start to build your success story for next year and include the core values that brought you through this fiscal year.

Make 2011's game plan more effective by leading your people into their future through sharing more knowledge, learning from their newly acquired wisdom and gathering a more devoted flock of consumers with a keen sense for authentic kingdom building.

Rick Tocquigny
CEO
Artbeat of America/Gracefully Yours greeting cards
Host of the national radio show "Life Lessons"
www.blogtalkradio.com/search/rick-tocquigny-life-lessons/

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