If you're smart, you can use the remaining weeks of 2005 to set the stage for major success in 2006. Follow these tips to take full advantage of year-end preparations.

Take stock. It's been a long year, and a lot has happened. Goals were met, and others weren't. Priorities changed and resources shifted. The plan as you knew it a year ago simply isn't appropriate for the challenges that lay ahead.

Now is an excellent time to reexamine your business plan, to consult with professionals in financial planning and marketing strategy, and to decide how best to leverage the opportunities and advantages that made themselves apparent this year. Don't make the mistake of resting on your laurels.

Revitalize. Now is not the time to let your competition outflank you. When did you last put a good scare into your markets? Shake things up a bit: look ahead to the future, and put the pieces in place now to reinvent how your customers view your industry. Be the driving force of your markets in the coming year.

Try something completely new. Now's a perfect time to consider bold new directions in both your service offerings and your marketing strategies, forcing your competition to do the same. Relying on the "standard package" is a terrible thing for business: it only encourages customers to shop based purely on price, because they learn to take your offerings for granted. Look for ways to do old things in new and better forms, and to strike out in completely novel ways. Your customers will reward you for it.

Consolidate your center. It's possible to spread yourself too thin; while you explore new opportunities and possibilities, don't abandon your past successes. Evaluate not only your marketing but also your business processes, with an eye towards focusing more tightly on the revenue streams that define your business today. Are you strongly competitive in your markets? Now's the time to become the undisputed leader.

Remind your clients that you're glad to have them on board. Most new business comes directly from old business. Take the time to demonstrate your appreciation to your customers with more than a simple holiday card. Be creative but appropriate - while some contexts are well served by a tasteful gift basket, others are better suited to a gift certificate or even discounts on future service. At any rate, don't let the holidays pass without ensuring that your customers know that their business is appreciated.

Don't forget that many businesses work through the holidays. Not everyone shuts down through year end. Many are doing what you should be doing - putting the pieces in place to make breakthrough successes in the coming year. If you can help them do that, they will welcome you to their court. Don't make the mistake of assuming that the holiday slowdown is a universal phenomenon.

Slow time doesn't have to be down time. Stay focused on your goals, and be open to opportunities; use the quiet months to your advantage. Use this time to get your pieces in place, and you'll come roaring into the new year instead of strolling into it.