Here we are again, winding down the year and prepping all of our grandiose plans of mice and men for the new year.  2009 is all but in the record books.  My guess is that many of you would like to tell 2009 “good riddance and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Yup, 2009 was an ugly year for many.  The magic question becomes “What is 2010 going to bring?”

The short answer: I don’t know.  No one does.  Miss Cleo (the late-night fortune telling informercial-ateur of yesteryear) is the only person I know with a functioning crystal ball, and she’s doing time in federal prison for fraud.  Didn’t see that one coming, eh Cleo?

I’ve spent a few days rifling through the countless analyst reports out there speculating the markets movements in 2010.  I’ll save you a lot of time and distill it down for you: lots of conflicting opinions.

So where does that leave you and me?  We can continue to have our prosperity dictated by some cor­porate fat-cats on Wall Street or we can hunker down and do what is required of us by our families and our country.  We can get to work with a vengeance.

Recession or not, improvement or further deterioration of the economy, housing market recovery or not, government bailouts or not, Erin and I are prepping for a great year in 2010.  Regardless of the circumstance, there is no situation that this world can deal you that you cannot outwork.  And outwork we shall.

So, what does your work ethic look like right now?  How is your attitude toward facing the unique challenges of the new year?  How likely are you to downsize your dreams or throw in the towel on pursuing your goals when alleged “experts” say that gloom and doom are here to stay?  I hope, for your sake, that you are prepared for what’s to come.  We are staring at a year full of greater adversity than we have faced in some time and greater opportunity than we can even imagine.

When that ball drops in Times Square and we all raise a glass of champagne, take inventory of all the wonderful things in your life.  Entering the new year with an attitude of gratitude will provide the best springboard toward reaching your goals.

Not my normal economic shtick, I know.  But I think it’s appropriate given the occasion.

Lastly, I want to personally thank each and every one of you for reading.  Whether I talk to you on a daily basis or we haven’t spoken for a while, I appreciate so much your love and support.  Your refer­rals and business are what afforded me the chance to now work side by side with my beautiful bride, and I can’t thank you all enough for that opportunity.

Happy New Year, everyone, and here’s to a terrific 2010!!!