The final weeks are upon us for 2010, and many people are left wondering how much of a shift for improvement they made over 2009. Here are just a few questions you can ask yourself in order to gauge your response…

• Was 2010 the year you broke through major barriers that previously held you back?

• Was this the year you focused on major self-improvement?

• Did your business do better this year (performance, revenue, growth, etc) over last year?

For some people, 2010 has been a struggle and trying time. For others, this has been the year of their life! So how about you?

With the last several weeks upon us, how are you going to finish out 2010? Most distance runners or relay runners will tell you it’s not how you start, but how you finish. You can have an average or weak start, but if you’re persistent and consistent and keep your total focus on the finish line – you will finish strong!

The same is in business.

If your goal is to become a better "you", or to make significant improvements to your business over last year, the real truth will be told in how you finish. It takes a person of real perseverance, diligence and tenacity to see things through to completion – especially when coming from a rough start!

Anyone can start off strong, or begin with good intentions in mind. But how you finish is a real testament.

So if you have a strong desire to finish 2010 in memorable fashion, here are some helpful suggestions that have worked for me and my clients. These 7 steps will work wonders for you whether your desire is for personal or professional results.

1. Finish Strong Personally or Professionally

2. Decide what you’re willing to give up in order to get it

3. Determine at least 3 actionable steps to do daily or weekly to make it happen

4. Write down that goal and those steps and make it easily viewable

5. Get assistance from someone who can direct, give insight and provide accountability

6. Work your plan

7. Enjoy the benefits of personal success and the fulfillment that comes with it

It’s going to be work, and it’s probably going to be hard. But welcome to the club! Those who want to move from where they are to where they want to be, receive the benefits and rewards that many others will never fully see or enjoy. Finishing strong is about understanding the personal power and unique abilities available within you (sometimes it takes someone committed to you – to help bring it out of you!). You are able to accomplish and achieve to the level that you believe that you can, for better or worse, so use that to your advantage.

Plus, when you finish out 2010 strong you are well positioned to achieve the goals or "New Year’s Resolutions" for 2011. While others are stopping to figure out what they want, and how they’re going to do it (setting resolutions), you’re on the fast-track with momentum behind you to accomplish more and faster!

If you can ever make any kind of investment, your #1 most important return needs to be on you. So decide today to make YOU better, since that affects everything else – your family, business, career, relationships, etc. When you decide to make a strong finish to this year by accomplishing the goals you set out to do earlier in the year, you make a difference to yourself and to those around you.

Here’s to your success! And I look forward to future conversations with you, and seeing you accomplish things and making a strong return on yourself.