For many people, this time of year is a time for reflection and anticipation. Reflection on the old year and anticipation of the new year. As a salesman, I've always viewed the New Year as another opportunity to prove myself. I start anew with dreams big enough to make my bones itch.

At any given time, one out of four salespeople is in a comfort zone. Ninety-six percent of companies have a problem with "plateaued" salespeople. For most of us, it's when, not if . A comfort zone is where we stop doing all of those things that got us to where we are in life. We may delude ourselves into believing that we are in a groove but wake up to discover that we've really just been in a rut. We begin the slow slide of life, but the problem with coasting or sliding is that the only direction you can slide is downhill.

I believe that one of the reasons we find ourselves in comfort zones is that we quit dreaming. We no longer stretch to our capacity for believing, and we settle for mediocrity. And who plans to be mediocre? No one sets out to be just average, but for some it may work out that way because they fail to dream. Robert Schuller challenges us with an interesting question, "What would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?" Obviously, the answer is "everything."

Dreaming is good for you. It fans the flames of your creativity and stirs your spirit. And you do it every night. Think about the last time you awakened from a nightmare. How did you feel? Were you fearful, shaking, sweating, heart thundering in your chest, blood racing through your veins, and maybe crying?

All of that happened because of a thought you had while sleeping. Imagine if you were to harness that energy in a conscious state. You could lift yourself to the next level in your career because you dared to dream that it was possible.

New Year's Day and dreaming are as American as apple pie and hot dogs. Our nation was founded by dreamers. They dreamed of a country where the government served the people, not the other way around. A radical, bizarre dream in those days. Companies are born from the dreams of courageous individuals willing to risk everything in the pursuit of their dreams.

Successful salespeople dream they can make it happen. They release their mental brakes and dream the big dream. All goals begin as a dream and are manifested in success.

So, what does 2002 hold for you? Are you willing to dream big enough to make your bones itch? The only thing that limits your dream-ability for the new year is the edge of your imagination.