Do you have a message you want to send yourself in the future? What about the message of celebrating your success? How about starting on New Year’s Day and then celebrating what you’ve accumulated on New Year’s Eve next year ?

Message in a Bottle

For centuries, those stranded on deserted islands after shipwrecks have sent out a message in a bottle in the hopes that a passing ship will find it and rescue them. English rock band The Police actually had two hit songs about this concept- Message in a Bottle and Sending Out an SOS.

Time Capsule

Another concept that has been utilized for over a century is the time capsule. People gather items that they feel significantly symbolize the period in which they live. Then they put them in a capsule so that archaeologists, anthropologists or historians will discover them later and have that much more of an impression of what the time they lived in was like. This concept has also been utilized to send messages to future generations.

Next Year’s New Year’s

You can start your own time capsule in a couple of different, equally simple ways. Sometime before the end of the year, find a jar or a box that will serve as your celebratory time capsule. Then, think of the first item you want to put in your time capsule and place it in the capsule on New Year’s Day.

Throughout the New Year, place additional items in the capsule. On New Year’s Eve next year, open the time capsule and celebrate your successes!

You could make a list of the things you plan to accomplish throughout the year. Then you’d write each item from the list on a post-it, index card or note paper. When you accomplish an item, you put the relevant note in your time capsule.

Or after you’ve accomplished something you know you’ll want to celebrate later, you write it on a post-it or index card and place in the capsule.

Or you gather keepsakes throughout the year that symbolize your successes and place them in your capsule. These items could include:

• The first dollar bill that you earn from your new business or the first income you receive of the year.
• A receipt from a dinner during which you landed a new client.
• A thank you note received from a grateful client.
• A photo of the new car, house or other item that you bought with the money you’ve earned.
• An invitation from the party you have to celebrate the anniversary of your business.

Sending Out an SOS

Your time capsule might not only serve as means of celebration. Like a message in a bottle, it could serve as reason or reminder to stay motivated. It could also act as an SOS to yourself in case you think you might waver from your goals. This could be just the initiative you need to revive, revitalize or save your business.

If your New Year’s resolution is to start your own business, don’t let it fall to the wayside. Utilize your time capsule, and look forward to celebrating your success for the entire year.