Judging by the number of new projects I’ve been discussing lately with current and prospective clients, everyone is getting ready for the new year. It’s really exciting that people are starting to recognize the value of working with a VA to help them reach their goals!

If you haven’t yet developed a plan for 2009, here are some questions from Milana.com that may help you to get started:

What’s your biggest business objective in 2009?

Where are your biggest opportunities right now?

Where do you see a gap in your market, what’s not being offered?

What do your customers and clients complain about?

Where are you leaving money on the table?

What new revenue streams can you easily add next year?

What are your top 3 time eaters and energy drainers?

What is your “Biggest Opportunity Project” for 2009?

What are the top 5 marketing strategies you’ll focus on?

How will you know you’ve had a great year?

I suggest copying and pasting the questions into a Word document, buying a notebook (if you’re a “paper person”), or creating an online notebook using Springpad (if you prefer online tools). Put each question on its own page and write down whatever answers come to you. Don’t try to complete this exercise all in one sitting, but continue adding to it as new ideas come to you. You can then write or type your answers out neatly, highlight keywords and phrases, or whatever best suits your workstyle.

Even if you have a pretty clear idea in your mind of what you want to achieve in 2009, take the time to write it down! Experts say that seeing your goals in writing can motivate you to taking the actions needed to achieve them. In addition, your goals document or notebook can become your guide throughout the coming year, to keep you on track and help you evaluate your progress.