What an adventure 2017 has been for me personally and professionally! There have been extreme highs and extreme lows. I've lost people I cared about, and I've reconnected with people I've missed. I've met goals I never imaged making and missed goals I'd diligently attempted to make.

​In other words, 2017 was a wild roller coaster year.

​Now as I think about 2018, I'm reminded of some advice a dear friend of mine gave. She asked, "When you are at your best, what are you doing? Whatever comes to mind, figure out how to bring that to your work."

​My answer to her was creativity. When I am at my best, I'm writing. I'm finding creative solutions to problems. I'm challenging others to think of things in a different way. Instead of a standard New Year's resolution, for 2018 I'm going to focus on creativity and how I can bring that to all areas of my life.

​Now, I pose my friend's question to you - When you are at your best, what are you doing? How are you going to incorporate that into your 2018 goals and activities?

I feel so blessed to be living in our current era. Twenty years ago, society didn't know a world of eReaders and online banking and research that only takes a few strokes on a keyboard. These are some of my absolute favorite things! (Most definitely the eReader! Over 100 books I can carry with me everywhere I go!!!)

However, with everything good thing humanity creates, there are cautions and risks -- especially online. A friend of mine works for a company who was attacked by a Phishing campaign. She believed it was a legitimate email from the CEO of her company asking everyone to give to charity. She's a kind person and wanted to give to the less fortunate. However, it wasn't legit. By opening up the attachment, she inadvertently gave a stranger access to her banking information, and the criminal changed her direct deposit account in the company database.

Fortunately, her story is a happy ending. She caught the change in time and reached out to her bank and to the company's IT group to prevent them from taking her paycheck.

Watch out for Phishing! These are emails or phone calls that seem totally real, but they are crooks looking to get information from you to steal your money and/or your identity. If something doesn't seem right with an email, scroll over (don't click!) the link to make sure it's going to the right place. If you're not sure, pick up the phone and call a company representative. If it's a suspicious phone call, ask for the person's name and a call-back number. Then, research the number and make sure it's accurate.

Watch out for sharks who are phishing for your info. Make sure you have a happy ending by denying them what they want!