There is something about this time of year that makes me feel reflective.

I don’t know if it’s the changing of the seasons, or the ending of summer, or maybe just because we’re entering the final quarter of the year, but this time of year always makes me take a step backwards and review where I am, where I thought I would be, and where I want to go from here.

Lately, what’s been on my mind is the idea of a business beacon- or a business mantra- or, if neither of those resonate, a guiding principle that you build your business around.

What is the beacon, or guiding light, that helps you decide what clients to work with? What projects to pursue?

How do you know that you’re on the right track?

I think your beacon probably changes with time, as you grow and evolve as a person. What doesn’t change, though, is a need to have a way to sort through information, opportunities, and possibilities in a way that makes sense and feels good to you.

I’ve been lately playing around with the idea of using “fun” as my beacon. When I meet new potential clients, or have new opportunities, or have choices to make about what conferences to attend, or who to spend more time with professionally, I’m going to test out making decisions from a place of “What would be the most fun?”

Who would be the most fun to work with as a client? What conference would be the most fun to attend? Who would be enjoyable to get to know better professionally?

For someone who has always approached work from a place of diligence and focus and intensity, this new beacon of fun seems interesting and also a bit challenging. Can I be productive and effective in work if I’m focusing on fun? Yet, I know, personally, that fun is one of my most favorite energies- and so it seems like it could be really, really – fun-  to bring more fun into work.

Do you have a key principle or beacon that you use in your business? If so, I’d love to hear more about it and how it’s worked for you.