Choosing is one of our innate gifts in life. We are faced with choices daily, and our trajectory, both professional and personal, are determined by the quality of the choices we make. How do we consciously weigh up the pros and cons of a specific action, or do we just ricochet off other people's actions and therefore choices for us? 

It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. ~ J. K. Rowling

There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns. - Edward de Bono, Maltese physician, author, inventor and consultant. He originated the term lateral thinking, wrote the book Six Thinking Hats and is a proponent of the deliberate teaching of thinking as a subject in schools.

Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you love to do, in order to have what you want. - Margaret Young, American musician 1900-1968

By releasing control over circumstances, you gain more control over your life. - Kyle Maynard; speaker, author, and ESPY award-winning mixed martial arts athlete, known for achieving all this despite being a congenital amputee.

Great communication depends on two simple skills:

• context, which attunes a leader to the same frequency as his or her audience
• delivery, which allows a leader to phrase messages in a language the audience can understand.

- John Maxwell, leadership specialist; author

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. - Leonardo da Vinci, Italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau, American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist.

End each project or even the end of each day by conducting a review. This provides a constructive sense of completion and frees you up mentally and emotionally to start the next project with a fresh perspective and clean slate. This also sets up a positive upward spiral of growth and development.

Personal and Professional Development are not an event, but a journey. We can never say, "We're done!" There is always something to learn for those with an open and enquiring mind. Don't leave your development to chance and other people's agendas. It's one of your most important assetts and something you are definitely and infinitely in control of. Take charge and consciously plot your own growth.

• Plan your professional and personal development for the year.
• Put in the rocks – key events that you really want to attend or achieve.
• Plan your own year, and do the same for your team and your businmess or organisation – goals, action plans – start the year with a clear idea of where you’re going.

How aware are we of our strengths, weaknesses, our impact on others, or where we put our energy when we're on autopilot? Now more than ever, in this time of unprecedented fear and uncertainty, we owe it to ourselves and to others to be more discriminating about what we watch, read, listen to and share. 'People tend to be generous when sharing their nonsense, fear, and ignorance… They seem quite eager to feed you their negativity… Be cautious with what you feed your mind and soul. Fuel yourself with positivity and let that fuel propel you into positive action.' - Steve Maraboli.