Earlier this week, I did a task that I’ve been putting off for awhile: cleaning out my email inbox.

I’m up to 25,000 emails stored in there, stretching back a little over a year, and I’m reaching capacity. My inbox is bursting at the seams …

Time to clear them out.

Scrolling through all the emails and doing a mass-purge, I was struck by the changes in me and my business since July of 2015.

I noticed the subject lines and conversations with people, and it seems like ages ago – even though one year ago isn’t that long in the grand scheme of things.

I looked at the emails of me chasing people that I wouldn’t even work with now, just one year later. Practically begging (or at least twisting the arms of) people who clearly weren’t my ideal clients …

Conversation threads that seemed “big” at the time, but I now realize were pretty unimportant …

Emails from people that I used to think were big deals, but with the benefit of hindsight, I know were full of you-know-what …

“July 2016 Marc” has grown a lot from “July 2015 Marc”!

We change a lot from year to year, even if we don’t realize it. I’ve bumped into people out and around my city when I’m with my son, and they’ve marvelled at how much he’s grown since they last saw him.

And I think; “What? He’s the same as before!”

I see him every day, so I don’t recognize the changes.

Growth spurts can get glossed over if we’re too close to the action. We don’t always see them. It’s the whole “can’t see the forest for the trees” thing.

For my personal development, I do a “one year test.” I constantly compare myself to where I was at one year ago, since one year is an easy measuring stick.

If I’m further along now than 12 months ago, that’s a win. I’m happy. If not, I know that I need to get cracking.

Where were you at one year ago? Are you further along?

If you’d like to be a lot further along with your coaching business in July 2017, my “Your First 5 Clients” program will help. I’ve created the program that I wish I had when I first started as a coach …

Best of all, I’m doing a promotion this week where I’m offering the program for 50% off the usual $497 price. To get the discount, use the coupon code “marcbirthday” when you get to the checkout at www.YourFirst5Clients.com.