It crept up on me, 2011 did. I was having such a whirlwind time in 2010 that it arrived before I knew it.

On 31 December I spent approximately 30 minutes writing up my 1 page business plan. Just 30 minutes because I’m so crystal clear in my head about what I want this year to be about.

This is quite new for me. I generally know where I’m heading and how I’d like to get there but it doesn’t always work out and things called `life’ gets in the way – often for the better.

Sometimes I love those detours, other times I wonder why I wasted that time going off track when I could have been making more impact, stretching myself further and discovering more. Don’t we all?

Then, on reflection, I realized that 2010 was one of the most amazing years for me. It started off as the crappiest year and finished off with a cosmic explosion.

Who would have thought that all the challenges and failures, wins and losses, adventures and mishaps would have made last year so rich. More than anything 2011 was all about the people who came into my life and what they allowed me to learn about myself and about the power of true connections.

Before you launch off into your grandiose plans for 2011, take time to reflect back on every single thing you did in 2010 and why that mattered, how it shaped you and what you learned.

Make sure you bring that into this very moment and remember it for all time. Don’t fall back into bad habits, don’t give up when you’re so close and do ensure you build on the foundation you laid to make 2011 your best yet.

Reflections on a year just passed

In no particular order here are my reflections on why 2010 was ultimately groundbreaking for me:

1. I met someone special and shared a magical 2 weeks at the start of 2010 and somehow repeated that again at the end of it

2. I made the hardest decision of my life to walk away from the business I co-founded and accept that I had failed

3. I started my own business and took a huge leap of faith by going full time with this blog in late April

4. I redesigned my blog in January and made my first big investment in my business, I did it again in December and am always in awe of the entire process of rebranding

5. I got down to $12 in my bank account not long after this and purposefully pushed through period to prove I could free myself financially

6. I gained my first social media consulting clients not long after that and found my love for coaching on marketing strategy and community building

7. I wrote and completed my first ever eBook – I think it almost killed me but you all seemed to have really liked it! (PS if you’d like a copy see the rather obvious box on the right

8. I played at the World Club Ultimate Frisbee Champs in Prague with Zephyr and experienced the highs and lows of team competitions

9. I travelled for 6 weeks in Europe to 5 different countries and stayed with great friends and complete strangers and somehow only paid for 3 nights accommodation in total

10.  I wrote an email to Seth Godin and he replied and commented on my blog and that is still a big highlight

11.  I met my new friend, the ever amazing Chris Guillebeau which sparked off meeting many more hugely talented, generous and impressive people – both online and off

12.  I interviewed 26 women entrepreneurs on their journey and wrote 182 blog posts!

13.  I got approached by Forbes to be a contributor and still don’t know how but I thank them for this incredible opportunity

14.  I was fortunate enough to enjoy working with the Visa Business Network, Entrepreneurial Women, Young Entrepreneur and Under30CEO

15.  Jonathan Fields posted my guest post and blew me away. Marko did too and others have kindly followed as well my first ever radio interviews

16.  I travelled to 8 countries, discovered new cultures, ate strange things, drove on the wrong side of the road, and grew a deeper love for world travel

17.  I left Vancouver where I lived for 2 years, spent 8 weeks living in the US and moved to Buenos Aires in Argentina

18.  I launched my first ever program – Business Success, followed by my first ever product – the Social Media Bootcamp and now my major accomplishment – The Passport to Business Freedom

19.  I made money – I lost and never got paid money (the latter doesn’t usually happen to me)

20.  I built an incredible Social Media platform from which to build my brand and more importantly a community of women (and men) that never cease to amaze me

21.  I ran four sellout Social Media Bootcamps and then left the city when things were ramping up….

22.  I got my first ever speaking gig and everyone actually stayed and listened

23.  I self taught myself more things than I ever thought possible and then taught others how to do the same

24.  I realized that when you think you’re failing others think you’re succeeding and helping them succeed too and that it makes it all worthwhile

25.  I found out that blogging is the most rewarding and enriching experience of my life and also one of the most demanding and challenging

26.  I hired two interns who both helped me to do more and learn more and recognize my limits

27.  One of those is the lovely Adelina Wong who I am so thankful to have in my life and continues to impress me

28.  I hired my first ever contractor Lesley Chang and I’m not sure how I found such a rare gem and WP wizard

29.  I attended several fantastic conferences that opened my eyes even further to the fact that we should all live our boldest most adventurous life – right now

30.  I learned I’m a workaholic and will be reclaiming my balance back in 2011 so that I can practice what I preach

31.  I claimed my stake in the 3 things I love most – online tools + technology, social media and outsourcing and intend to take that even further this year

32.  I dressed up in a bikini top and ski bunny ears on my birthday while skiing backwards down the slopes of Whistler thanks to dares from my friends.

On that last note I think I’ll stop reminiscing, smiling and laughing, I’ll close my Facebook photo albums that show me, in no uncertain terms how incredibly blessed I am to live this life, to have such a wonderful family and a wealth of international friends.

I’ll focus on how I can give back even more in 2011 and continue on this Suitcase Entrepreneur adventure.

I would love for you to share your biggest reflection on 2010 and how that’s going to impact your 2011 below.

Thanks to Sarah Prout and her Aim 2011 program for prompting this post, one of 3 programs I’m invested in as well as my own to really start this year off on a high.