January is one of my favourite times of year. It's time to take stock, reflect and plan. I love making lists and now is the time to do it!

I'm busy making notes ready for my marathon business planning session next week, which I won on The Passionate PA advent competition.

As a solopreneur I have to admit to finding business plans quite tricky. I work best bouncing ideas around, and that's hard to do on your own! I'm really excited about brainstorming with Kate to develop my plans for Making Mumpreneurs.

The last year has been full on - living in Abu Dhabi and adjusting to a new culture, deciding it wasn't right for us and that we longed to be back in the UK, returning to Bournemouth and setting up home, getting the kids settled in to a new school.

Not only that but I also launched two new websites, Making Mumpreneurs, and The Kids' Nature Shop. Was I insane?! Yes probably, but it has been an important journey and I have learned so much along the way.

I was thrilled to realise that my first brainchild, Pitter Patter - The Hub For Bubs actually turns 5 this month! Pitter Patter offers professionally led classes for babies and toddlers, creating a central meeting place for parents & carers in the heart of local communities. It launched in Ealing, London in 2012 and within a year we had 4 venues across West and South West London. We faced several challenges with the business model I had created, and we had to adapt to changes, sometimes unexpected. However 5 years on it's still going strong in its birth place, and I am super proud of the brand I created.

I know my businesses have perhaps suffered in this past year as I haven't been able to dedicate as much heart and soul in to them as I would have liked. Outcomes haven't always been as I had hoped. Sometimes I have dwelled on this a little too much, but now, entering 2017 I am determined to get back on track, make some big decisions and continue doing what I love to do - creating, evolving and collaborating.

It's always good to take stock of your business and where you are going. What are your aims for the New Year? Do you have all the skills you need to start or grow your business? Or do you need to take some time to learn new things?

Resolve to invest in yourself this year and dream BIG!

Erin x