Naming your business can be a stressful process. You want to choose a name that will last and, if possible, will embody both your values and your company's distinguishing characteristics. But screening long lists of names with a focus group composed of friends and family can return mixed results.

Alternatively, a naming firm will ask questions to learn more about your culture and what's unique about you--things you'll want to communicate to consumers. One thing that Phillip Davis, the founder of Tungsten Branding, a Brevard, North Carolina-based naming firm, asks entrepreneurs is "do you want to fit in or stand out?"

What possibilities will 2019 bring to you? As I reflect on 2018 and plan what I’d like to accomplish next year, I am very cognizant of the opportunities that may arrive that are unplanned. For example, when writing the post below from 2014, I did not have an inkling of becoming the president of the NNBA. I just knew I wanted to serve the nursing community by sharing my expertise from the business world. Having an optimistic outlook attracts opportunities and I look forward to hearing from you during the upcoming year. A very special link is at the bottom of this short post that will allow you to print out “The Optimist Creed”; one of my favorite things. Happy New Year! #NNBA2019]

Humans usually mark the passage of time by their own growth. As children, it’s physical growth, like the markings etched into the wall of your childhood home indicating your height from one year to another. As adults, our growth is less guaranteed but just as important. We go into each new year hoping to grow in a way that betters our physical and mental states of being, our relationships, our careers, and the lives of the people around us. We just want to improve.

What follows is a list of ideas to help you get better and feel better as long as the number of days in a year. Your future, your health, your work life and your contributions to your fellow humans are all covered.