For us small business runners, it’s time to hold sales, count inventory, reflect, and plan ahead. One of the things that always gets me excited about the impending new year is my ritual of Clean Out.

I find that the fewer things I have, the more I know I can thrive with an even lighter load.

So I go through my personal possessions and see what I no longer need. I go through my business materials and retire, file, and donate the unnecessary extras. The picture on the right shows the first four bags that went to the donation drop site.

As the space around me increases, I find that my spirit and enthusiasm expand to fill it. I make room for the next year.

I hope you are facing 2010 with a similar optimism.