Whilst appreciating that there will be some who have worked during the Christmas and New Year period, many like me will be back to their routines this morning for the first time after an 11-day break.

I’ve not been idle and, in fact, was seized by the desire to have a very early Spring Clean whilst at home.

My list of achievements during the festivities included:

• a huge clearance of my wardrobe – I kid you not that there are around 10 shopping bags full of (just my) clothes on their way to the charity shop this week and I took 3 bags of shoes and trainers last week. Anybody who knows me knows that I’m no fashionista – Levi jeans, t-shirts and trainers will suffice but I haven’t had a clothes clear out since we moved to Manchester 7+ years ago and it is amazing how much “stuff” I’ve accumulated;
• I know this sounds a minor event but a clear out and clean of my bathroom cabinet was equally motivating, yielding another bag full of rubbish that I no longer use;
• having redecorated the ground floor of our home during 2018 and also waved goodbye to my youngest daughter – the time was long overdue to sort out and tidy up the spare bedroom that Ellie was using. This engaged me for most of a day during the break and also allowed the opportunity to move an ever-increasing pile of books in our main bedroom onto the bookshelves that she had vacated. I was very pleased with myself and transformed that bedroom from a dumping ground into a nice room with which to welcome Christmas visitors;
• In the same spirit, I also reviewed my personal and professional subscriptions to all the odds and sods of software, services and publications accumulated last year, resulting in a financial clear out that will save me around £2,200 of unnecessary payments in 2019 and beyond.

I’m feeling very self-righteous this morning and well prepared for the week and month ahead, having invested 3 hours on New Year’s Day completing my Q1 goals in the Full Focus Planner and reviewing my tasks for the next 2 weeks, during which I’ll predominantly be working from home.

Today is also rather special because I officially welcome my eldest daughter Rachel as full-time business development manager. Phillippa and I have been “the team” for over 10 years and so it will initially be very strange to think about three of us. No doubt a few toes to be stepped on as we learn the new dance. New communication habits to be embedded.

I’ve been working on Rachel’s job specification and goals for some months now and today we have a 4-hour meeting in The Bunker for me to start her journey.

Ultimately the objective is sustainable and profitable growth in the business – “more profit in less time with happy people” (you might say).

So as you can see, my last 11-days have been about catharsis, about sweeping out the old and welcoming in the new.

Now it’s time to look outside The Bunker and begin the process of working with clients to make their 2019 a great one.

Let the adventure begin.