When new challenges and opportunities arise in 2015, will you be ready for them? If you follow my primal rules, you can make smart choices and avoid big mistakes.

I went totally dark this past week, meaning I shut everything down completely for the first time in – well, too long. I focused on nothing but what I love the most: my kids, cooking, exercising, relaxing, journaling, and planning my future. In addition, I spent precious time connecting with friends and family.

And you know me… I also spent time thinking. At the beginning of a New Year, with new paths opening up to me and lots of choices to make, here’s what I was thinking about: mistakes.

I’ve made my share of mistakes. It’s impossible not to, especially when you really want to live out your fullest purpose. That drive you have to get where you want to go in life – whether it’s to be a great mom or dad, a loving partner, a business owner, a successful executive, or just a truly happy person – will push you to go beyond what’s comfortable and make you take risks. There is a cost-benefit ratio to this. The benefit is bigger rewards. The cost is sometimes you take a nose-dive.

However, as I’ve listened to countless stories, I’ve come to realize that many mistakes come not from aiming high but from trying to take short-cuts. Short-cuts almost never work. Here’s what does: getting very clear on who you are and what you stand for. That’s the key to avoiding pitfalls in life.

Get super clear. What are your values? What do you stand for? What do you really want? This makes yes/no very simple.

If you haven’t thought about your values, then I highly recommend that you do so. Figure this stuff out. Write each value down on an index card, look at it every day, and most importantly – speak it! Say it out loud every day. If you want a promotion, write it, think it, speak it. Who cares if someone may hear you? Do it anyway. If you want to find the love of your life, your dream girl or guy – get clear. Then write it, think it, speak it. You WILL attract it.

When you meet celebrities or top executives, you’ll spot common threads. For one thing, they are more alive than most people are. They have unusual energy. Second, they know exactly what their next move on the chessboard will be. They know who they are and where they are going. There’s a reason for this – because this is how you avoid mistakes. This is how you carry out your vision.