What do we intend to do? What do we want to do differently? The answer is usually: A lot. And then very little happens.

We have found that at the end of the year, a review is actually more appropriate than an outlook.

The author and podcaster Tim Ferriss calls this the PYR – past year review – it only takes 30-60 minutes and we were very impressed by it.

Here's how it works: Take a notepad and create two columns: POSITIVE and NEGATIVE.

Now open your calendar on your phone or computer and go through the past year, week by week.

On the pad, write down for each week all the people or events that triggered positive or negative feelings.

Enter them in the appropriate columns.

Once you've gone through the past year, look at your notebook list and ask yourself:

"What were the people or actions that reliably produced peak results?"

Now take your "positive" highlights and plan more of them for the new year. Put them in your calendar now! Book time with friends. Block out time for projects. It's not enough to just intend to do it; you have to put it in your calendar.

That's the first step.

The second step is to take your "negative peaks" of the year and resolve to avoid these people and activities in the new year.