One of the things I love most about being a business owner is that every year I learn so many new things, meet great people and gain valuable experience. 2011 has been no exception.

This year, as I consider all the things I've experienced and learned, I realize that one of my greatest teachers has been a handsome blond guy who sometimes refers to himself as "The King" – my son, Christopher.

Though he's only two and half, he's already an incredible source of inspiration. His personality and sense of humor develop more and more every day, and his knowledge seems to expand by the hour. He's bold. He's curious. He's daring. He's enthusiastic. Who can't use a little more of that?  

So as we're all wrapping up 2011 and making our master plans for 2012, I want to share three of my favorite lessons from "The King" with you today:

1. The need for perfection diminishes productivity and fun. No matter how cleverly we construct that tower of empty boxes, it still only lasts about two seconds around Christopher. The fun is in knocking it down and starting over again. He doesn't want to analyze the way they're aligned or balanced, adjust it or stop to admire his creation. He just wants to keep playing and keep rebuilding. How many times in business do we labor over getting something perfect, when it would have been fine three hours ago? Sometimes we take as much time getting from 97% to 100% as we did getting from 1% to 97%! This type of obsession for perfection is a major time suck (and I know this firsthand!). Taking too long to get tasks done can result in missed opportunities and frustration. Give yourself a set time frame for each task and stick to it. In 2012, let's all vow to get more stuff done (even if it's not perfect) and have fun in the process!
  

2. Think bigger. Whenever there are older kids around, my son automatically kicks into "big kid" mode. He assumes that he can do everything they can. There's something about being caught up in the whirlwind of playtime that expands his ideas about how high he can climb or how fast he can run. While this admittedly gives me heart palpitations at times, he expands his capabilities as he pushes his boundaries. This is true in business as well. While it may be comforting to share stories with those having similar struggles, it's critical that you spend more time with people who've had the same challenges but have already overcome them. It's important to hang out with the "bigger kids" so that you focus on what you want to become, rather than the hurdles you're currently facing.


3. Ask forgiveness, not permission. Why is it that I never hear the question, "Mommy, can I go play in your office and throw business cards and paper clips all over the floor?" Probably because when I find the aftermath of the office-supply-tornado, my brief admonishment is quickly followed by forgiveness. It seems that my "Mommy's-not-happy" conversation is by no means a strong enough reason not to do this again an hour later. I'm sure we all did this as kids. But then we went through years of formal education where rules and consequences were a way of life. As a result, most of us have a very hard time being daring. We've been trained to minimize risk, ask permission and play by the rules. But who made up these rules? Do you think people like Russell Simmons or Richard Branson play by this same set of rules? Not a chance! They would never have achieved the kind of success they now enjoy by limiting themselves to someone else's expectations. What opportunities have you missed by playing by the rules? Why not make up your own set of rules…ones that serve you better than the ones you've been living by?

 

Consider how you can make 2012 your biggest, boldest year yet. Reclaim that child-like enthusiasm as you make up some new rules for yourself, and don't forget to have some fun in the process!