A second characteristic of entrepreneur is willingness to make mistakes. They wouldn’t worry so much about how to build a road as they would about locating their remote acreage in a highly productive area, and finding a reasonable path to nearest market. The details of road building would be delegated, probably to local labor. If labor force had never dealt with things like dynamite, surveying equipment, etc., initial attempts at a road would be crude at best. Still, entrepreneur worries less about being perfect than they do about getting results. The mistakes only motivate them to try again, this time with a different plan.

A final characteristic of entrepreneur is vision. The entrepreneur doesn’t look at this vacant land and see a weedy expanse teeming with insects. He sees cleared and plowed fields of dreams, brimming with soybeans or other cash crops, a tidy ranch house, and a straight, paved road headed straight for world’s market. In short, entrepreneur starts with a picture of end result in mind, and builds steadily toward that end until picture becomes reality.

The road to your greatest opportunities and your highest level of success may still have to be built. Are you ready to pick up a shovel?

* Subscribe to a newspaper or magazine subscription such as a health, finance, or major newspaper. Why not better your well-being, develop your financial portfolio or learn more about current events that affect your life.

The Gift of Goal Setting * Set your first goal – you will make time for self. Even fifteen minutes alone, in bathtub or shower, can provide you with time you need to just think and find yourself. Finding yourself means determining what do you want and what you need. Who else knows you better and who else can give you what you need. Help someone else find time - barter or give gift of time via babysitting or cooking a meal for another family (now they will have more time for themselves, too).

* Commit to a healthful lifestyle. Diets are great for short term gain but often fail because they are so difficult to stick with. Improve your health with a subscription to a health magazine, buy or rent a video/DVD, join a gym or recreation center, or purchase a piece of gym equipment. Remember it can only work if you take action!

* Set financial goals – financial freedom is a worthwhile goal that can be achieved with knowledge, planning and commitment. Whenever you find yourself in a buying situation, ask yourself “Do I want this item or do I need this item?” I find this a big help when deciding to make a purchase and not be a slave to credit card payments. Also, pay by cash and not by credit card. Start now!

* De-clutter and organize. That mess can make you feel overwhelmed, confused, and stressed. Less truly is more. Commit to keeping only what brings you pleasure, love, or need. Organize your home and office to enable you to find what’s there. This in turn will save you time and money because you won’t be going out all time to buy what you already have.

I encourage you to start today - share any or all of these gifts with yourself, family, friends, or colleagues. Remember, greatest gift of all is gift that keeps on giving – gift is empowerment!