Amazing things can happen in one year, and with a new one upon us, we all must ask ourselves what we want to do with our next 365 days.

I truly learned the power of one year in 2009 when I begin building Scriply with my business partner in the wee-hours of the morning. Even now, the final outcome of that work is undecided, but the skills that we gained were core to the founding of Todaymade and how we do business.

Never underestimate the power of a year.

Last December, my wife committed to doing a custom illustration every day for an entire year. Her work not only challenged her skill-set, but brought forth a viable business doing custom family illustrations that will hopefully continue plowing ahead in the months to come.

In 2011, Todaymade committed to posting valuable social media and marketing content on our blog 5-3 times per week. Now with over 275 posts in our archive, our content library has become the genesis for our Social Media Field Training course, and our new 20 part Social Media Consulting Course.

The point is that one years time can be a really powerful thing.

As the primary blogger, my writing abilities from one year ago look nothing like what they do today.

My wife has a successful and viable business that fits her lifestyle and passion.

Todaymade moves from a year of huge growth to an exciting future on deck.

But maybe, 2012 is your year to do something powerful.

Guts For Glory

It takes a lot to commit to something for one whole year. It takes guts, and honestly, most people won’t make it past day 30. The problem is that these types of commitments push our boundaries – big time.

Am I capable?

Is it worth-while?

Now, I am not really talking an exercise plan or a new eating regimin. These things can certainly be important, but the kind of commitment I am talking about is far more personal, and professional. It is committed to self-improvement and re-igniting a passion that was once lost or never found.

What is it that you’ve always wanted to do? What if this is the year you started doing it?

A friend of Todaymade’s recently released a video every day for 30 days highlighting a noteworthy person in his community. Just think about that.. he did something new, something big, something brave – every day. In the beginning, he started with 0 fans, and now he has thousands. He is also building a business from his success.

All too often, we talk about the things we love and the passions we seek with fond memories, but no immediate interest in action. It is a lot easier to talk about something that we will do ‘someday’ than it is to start on something today.

I think it is time for that someday.

Do Something Every Day For A Year

Do you want to change your life? I know, that sounds big, but it doesn’t have to. It happens all the time when people commit to something bigger than they think they can be. Maybe this is the year you…

• Post something new on your blog, every day.
• Make something new – art, writing, a meal, a photo, every day.
• Take one small step, every day, towards a business that you’ve always wanted.

Focus Intensely On One Task For One Year

What we are talking about here is something called focused intensity. It is something that Dave Ramsey teaches so well. When you concentrate intentionally on a task, it will eventually become a reality. The task you will focus on intently for one year is…

• Discovering or re-discovering a lost passion.
• Building a business from your basement card table.
• Practicing something that you want to be better at.

Commit To Investing In Yourself For One Year.

At the end of a one year commitment you will have something that you didn’t just 12 short months before. You will have more confidence and drive than you ever had before. Why? Because, you invested in yourself. This year you will invest in yourself by…

• Reading two books a month, every month.
• Begin journaling your thoughts and ideas daily.
• Make something great that didn’t exist before.

Not A Resolution

Many of you may call this just another way of saying “new years resolution.” Perhaps, but I don’t think thats all this is. I don’t want you to resolve to do something – I want you to actually start doing something. Get that? Start!

This year, do something completely different, and don’t measure the results until your done. Along the way you will be tempted to quit. You will be tempted to let it go – but don’t. At the end of the year, you will have something to show for it. I promise.

You will have something that you couldn’t have gotten any other way.