As the Holiday Season draws to a close and the New Year looms, I urge 50+ Baby Boomers to take time out to reflect on this year's events and set goals for 2012.

I do this every year. I look at my successes and failures during the current year, then craft my goals for the next year. This document becomes my guide, reminding me of the important things I want to accomplish as the following year progresses. It is my roadmap.

My goals are both personal and business. I look at health objectives (somehow, losing ten pounds always makes the list!), personal relationships, family, travel objectives, activities and my business goals. I try to be as specific as possible so that I don't succumb to the "weasel room" pitfall. Whatever makes my list is something I really want to accomplish during the coming year.

I also do something unusual. I list events that I feel are likely to happen during the coming year. Last year, I predicted that our two older pets might pass on. Unfortunately, I was right. But I also look at possible national and international events and how they might affect me, my family and my friends. This exercise has often positioned me to be better prepared for circumstances that catch others by complete surprise. Occasionally, my prognostications have saved my butt because I had at least taken minimal steps beforehand "just in case." So far, my predictions are batting about 50 percent.

Give it some thought. If you want your life to become productive, then envision where you would like to be this time next year - Slimmer? Richer? Happier? There's an old saying, "If you don't know where you're going, how will you ever get there?"