You're looking forward, aren't you?

Most of us are, along about now. The year is almost over and, in many ways, it can be instructive to look back at the year that was. That is especially true considering how many retrospectives we can all expect to be treated to in the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.

The press loves to look over its shoulder as it steps into the new year. I sometimes suspect that has to do with a self-congratulatory mood: they love to look back on the stories they really nailed during the course of the year.

For us microbusiness owners, though, looking backward while we step forward seems counterintuitive. Sure, there will be things to follow up on, things you started this year that you'll finish next year. But, for the most part, about the only serious time we'll spend thinking about the year that was will be for the purposes of doing our taxes.

Microbusiness owners are optimists, after all, and part of being an optimist is being constitutionally disinclined to cry over spilt milk.

Since I am one of you, I am the same way. This has been a really tough year for us at this end of the world; not to beat a dead horse to death but you'd be amazed at how long it takes to truly recover from a natural disaster.

All things considered, I have lots of reasons for my lack of interest in spending much time staring back at the year that I'm leaving. That's particularly true when I know I have so much great stuff to look forward to.

As is my custom, there will be no further issues of either The MicroEnterprise Journal or the Microbusiness News Briefs published this year. I use these last two weeks of the year that is to regroup, fill in the details and finalize my plans for the year that will be, and catch my breath.

I will be continuing to update The Journal Blog during this two week period, for those of you who would like to stay in touch in the meantime.

The next issue of both newsletters will be published on Monday, January 8, 2007.

Best wishes for a joyous holiday season, from me and mine to you and yours.

I'll see you next year.