An Expat's Most Important New Year's Resolution - What Will You BE in 2009?

One of the things on my "to do list" since early in January that I have not gotten to because I have been sick in bed with a very bad flu for several weeks was to write a blog post about New Year's resolutions to support an expatriate's professional success.

As these past few weeks have gone by, my thoughts around what would be most meaningful to include in this post has changed quite a bit.

Initially I'd decided to write a list of things TO DO, including:

• Clarify your unique value and master how you communicate it

• Learn the language of your country of choice or improve your language skills - take a course or find a conversation group

• Develop or broaden your global perspective - take a course or start reading a new international publication like The Economist

• Plan a trip to your country of choice or to a new city in your expat home country - spend time doing activities that will help you learn about a new aspect of that culture

• Develop your adaptability muscle - regularly commit to doing one thing each week or month that puts you out of your element and forces you to adapt to a new situation

• Build or develop your global network off- and online - connect with fellow expats on online networks, via blogs, or join an international professional association