Many advisors are using the holiday break to reflect on their business.In two columns last fall, I detailed ten lessons from a 2004 trek up Mount Kilimanjaro that might be helpful as advisors think about plans for the year ahead.

Last Monday, I highlighted the first four lessons. Today, I summarize six more takeaways from a trek up Kilimanjaro and complete my "top ten" list.

Last week's business planning lessons were:

1. Set stretch goals

2. Invest the time to pick the right strategy

3. Put a plan in place that tilts the odds in your favour

4. Pick your partners carefully

This week's lessons from Kilimanjaro:

5. Ensure you have the right team behind you.

Kilimanjaro: While climbers get the glory, the real heroes are the porters who haul the gear, unacknowledged but instrumental to success.

Advisors: Successful advisors are almost always supported by capable, motivated staff - and investing the time, energy and money to put strong support staff in place is essential.

6. Focus on the immediate step ahead.

Kilimanjaro: When tired, discouraged and faced with tough conditions, climbers need to concentrate on taking the very next step, not the entire journey ahead of them.

Advisors: When daunted by the magnitude of the challenges facing them, advisors need to focus on making the very next meeting or the very next call successful.

7. Focus on the big picture.

Kilimanjaro: If all they do is look at the rocky ground where they're putting their feet next, climbers miss spectacolour views behind and ahead of them and the motivation this brings. Climbers need to balance focus on the next step with an occasional glance at what's behind them and ahead of them.

Advisors: To stay motivated, advisors need to take time for an occasional pause to reflect on where you've been and the bigger picture - and to reflect on where all the individual steps are taking you.

8. Suck it up when the going gets tough.

Kilimanjaro: Getting to the top of Kilimanjaro inevitably means working through some pain and discomfort along the way - when encountering this, complaining isn't productive, all you can do is summon up the discipline to stay focused on your goal.

Advisors: Every successful advisor has encountered setbacks, disappointments, frustration and discomfort along the way. To achieve true success, you need the determination and commitment to work through these.

9. Enjoy the moment.

Kilimanjaro: While natural to celebrate when reaching the top of Kilimanjaro, it's also important to recognize milestones along the way - a tough hill climbed, a hard day behind you. It's those celebrations that help provide the motivation to work through adversity.

Advisors: Build time into your quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily routine to reflect on and acknowledge the small successes - taking the time to enjoy what you've achieved will help provide energy for the path ahead.

10. Begin by beginning.

Kilimanjaro: There are lots of decisions entailed in climbing Kilimanjaro - and it's easy to get overwhelmed by these. Ultimately, the most important part of the journey is the commitment to start it, to begin by beginning.

Advisors: Some advisors are paralyzed by the many decisions in their business - here too the key is to focus on one decision at a time, make that decision and then move on to the next.

As you reflect on your plans for 2009, consider what lessons from past experiences can guide your business forward and help you reach your full potential.

For those interested in reading the complete articles about lessons from a trek up Kilimanjaro:

Part One: http://www.investmentexecutive.com/client/en/News/DetailNews.asp?Id=46227&cat=30&IdSection=30&PageMem=&nbNews=&IdPub=168

Part Two: http://www.investmentexecutive.com/client/en/News/DetailNews.asp?Id=46656&cat=30&IdSection=30&PageMem=&nbNews=&IdPub=170