With some idea of where you’d like to head in 2008 based on your goals statement and values statement, you can start to put together a concrete plan. But before going forward, you’ve got to look back, back to the work you’ve done in 2007. It’s time for a year-in-review analysis.

Pull out your 2007 calendar, clippings from the year, contracts, big projects and milestones from your job, and spread them out in front of you. Start sorting. Divide them into two piles:

• The work you’re proud of
• The projects you never want to repeat

Now you’ve got a very clear list of the work you’re already doing to achieve success next year, and the work that’s been holding you back. Think about what it was that you liked doing that made you sort a project into the proud pile and write it down. You might put, “These are all interesting articles that I loved writing,” or “These represent my break from proofreading into a higher-level job,” or “My boss gave me autonomy in this project, and I nailed it. I want more freedom.”

Now think about your Never Again pile and write a list of the negatives. Maybe, “This was a low-paying, short assignment that took as much research as a long one.” Or, “That publication never paid, so no more writing for start-ups.”

Don’t forget about your goals and values while you do this – the work you did earlier in those exercises will make it easier for you to decide what piece of work goes into what pile.

Once you’ve completed your sorting (the looking back part), you’ll be able to start to draft your dream list of publications or workplaces you want to aim for in 2008 (the looking forward part).

And for help with that, check in next week for putting together your list of target markets and jobs and what you need to do to make them part of your clientele.