When you sit down to plan 2010, before you launch into the details, make sure you spend a good deal of energy focusing on the big picture.

What are you passionate about?  What have you been putting off that you'd like to get done?  Think about what it is you'd truly like to accomplish in 2010, jot it down... then expand on it.

• Is there a dollar amount you'd like to net? Great, then what?
• More quality time with your family? Great, then what?
• Volunteering with an organization you're passionate about? Great, then what?
• Changing careers? Expanding your business? Writing a book? Going to school?  Getting organized?

THEN WHAT?

When you ask yourself that single question, you open the door to delving deeper and identifying what's really important to you.  And there's an excellent reason for going deeper:   you'll give yourself a fighting chance to actually accomplish a goal if it's tied to a more compelling motivation.

For example, let's say you want to "get organized" in 2010.  Before you even begin to work on making it Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time sensitive, you need to ascertain whether or not it really resonates with something deeper.

What will "getting organized" do for you?  How will your life change when you get organized?  What happens after you get organized?

Is "getting organized" the real goal, or could the real goal be something much larger ...  like living a simpler life?

In that case "getting organized" is simply one step on the path toward the larger goal of living a simpler life.  If you focus only on "getting organized" when you're real motivation lies in living a simpler life, you've missed out the deeper, more compelling element.  And, by doing that, you've missed the one element that you can draw on when times get tough, that will help you stay on track.

So, spend the time to go deeper and gain insight into what's really important to you.  Knowing what makes you tick is a huge step toward building a plan for living a truly fulfilling life.