If you’re not seated, grab a sheet of paper, a calendar, and a pen and sit down. I’m going to guide you through a little exercise (don’t worry, it’s not exhausting at all) that will help you extract what you need to change in your life and in your business in 2011 to be happy and successful.

Basically this exercise will help you visualize your marketing strategy for 2011 clearer than ever, and implement your strategies effectively.

See below the 7 Switch-It-Up Steps to Finding Happiness and Running a Successful Business in 2011:

Step 1: Do you remember that sheet of paper and pen I told you to take earlier? This is the time to use it. Create a two-column list on your sheet of paper and title one column “It worked!” And the other column “That didn’t work”.

Step 2: Close your eyes and take a little trip down memory lane in 2010. What were the best moments in your business and how did you get to those moments? When were you happiest and what was going on with your business at the time? All the actions you took that created these moments are in the “It worked!” Section. column. Write them down, feel free to draw stick figures and pictures next to the actions you wrote down if it helps.

Step 3: Close your eyes again and take another trip down the memory lane of 2010. The difference between this trip and the trip you took in Step 2 is that the weather turns stormy and gray. What were the worst moments in your business and how did you get to those moments? When were you at your lowest and what was happening to your business at the time? You probably don’t want to go back to the sad days of making less-than-important business decisions, but you have to. To grow from our past mistakes, we must face and challenge them head-on to positively influence our decisions in the future.

All the actions you took that created these moments are in the “That didn’t work” column. Write them down, feel free to draw stick figures and pictures next to the actions you wrote down if it helps. All the items you write should focus on what you no work for your business.

Step 4: Check out the “It worked!” decisions you made. Now, take your calendar and mark on it the dates when you will make similar decisions. For example, if one of your “It worked!” The decision was to organize a webinar that attracted 50 people and 15 of those people bought your product or service. Mark your calendar when you will host your next webinar. When you mark a task on your calendar that has been successful in the past, you have something positive to look forward to. Viewing the task on your calendar also serves to encourage you to get the ball rolling rather than waiting until 2011 to get it done.

Step 5: Look at your “That didn’t work” list and say the list items out loud, starting with the phrase “In 2011, I won’t (insert problem)” and ending with the phrase “I Will (insert solution). For example, you would say “In 2011, I will not wear too many hats in my business. Will delegate. Now bookmark your solutions and set a point on your calendar or your desktop bulletin board to always search for those solutions.