In our day-to-day lives, we tend to put off long-term, big-picture planning in favor of urgent tasks. We also tend to hope for big goals without breaking them down into the smaller tasks that make them possible to reach.

This week may be the perfect time to work on both of those things. That’s because the days leading up to New Year’s are when we’re most likely to make time to reflect on the past and plan for the future.

As I review my own company’s 2016 numbers and plan my 2017 kickoff meeting, I find myself coming back to a few ideas that I thought I’d share with you.

• Obstacles are Opportunities. I can’t say I’m sad to see 2016 end, because it brought some big challenges for me and for my business. Looking forward to 2017, I know that a few of those challenges will continue. However, I also know that successful people tend to feel energized by obstacles instead of discouraged by them. This outlook isn’t always easy, and it often requires a conscious effort. It’s worth it, though. When we choose to see problems as chances to get stronger, we can improve. Complaining and worrying, on the other hand, only hold us back.
• Expect the Obstacles. After this year, I’m even more aware that it’s critical to plan for potential challenges in our businesses. Entrepreneurs tend to expect the best because they’re excited about what they can offer. Some of that optimism is absolutely required when you start a new business. However, risk management is also essential. As you plan for 2017, you might consider a few ways to mitigate your sports facility’s risks. (Here are some ideas: better insurance, updated waivers, updated staff agreements, and fixes for cash flow problems).

I hope you’re having a great holiday season and that your post-holiday camps and clinics are going well.

I have exciting things planned for this blog and for my own business in 2017, and I can’t wait to share them with you. Thanks again for reading.

Now, here are SportsFacilityExpert.com’s top posts of the past year.

First, I listed the articles that got the most traffic. Then, I listed some of my personal favorites that also got quite a few shares.

Most Popular Sports Facility Expert Posts Written in 2016

1. Should you open a nonprofit sports academy?
   I’ve operated both a for-profit sports academy and a non-profit baseball organization. Here are a few things to consider if you’re considering filing for nonprofit status.
2. 5 tactics this indoor sports facility uses to stay profitable
   When a three-person team opened Center St. Louis in a shuttered, bank-owned facility with eight volleyball courts, a fitness gym, and a 90-by-135-foot turf field, they knew they had to work hard and work smart. Here are some tactics they’ve used to stay profitable.
3. Building your own sports facility
   Most of us would love to build our own sports facility, and I spent plenty of time looking into the idea for my own academy. After lots of meetings with building designers, financiers, architects, and local officials, I decided not to do it. Here’s why.
4. How to open a volleyball facility
   Are you considering purchasing space for your volleyball club to operate on its own? Here’s what you need to know.
5. Facing a 10K loss, this owner got creative
   Find out how Harford Sports Center’s Danny Taylor turned an unexpected weather closure into one of his facility’s most popular programs.

Some Other Top Posts

Here are a few more must-read articles about sports facility ownership that you may have missed in 2016.

1. UPDATED: Dealing with the New Overtime Law Changes – Starting in December of 2016, businesses were going to be required to give overtime pay for any salaried staffers who make less than $47,476 a year. A judge recently put a stop to the implementation of these new rules, but you might want to stay in the loop on this issue if it could affect your sports facility.
2. New Birthday Party Idea: Nerf Wars – This cool new birthday party idea is fun for kids and can work really well on a simple turf field.
3. Branding Lessons from a Standout Soccer Club – Alchemy Sports Complex is located in Minnesota, where the high demand for indoor sports complexes means there are plenty around. Its soccer club’s laser-focus on individual player development sets it apart.
4. How Much is Your Sports Facility Worth? – Even if you aren’t trying to sell your business soon, understanding how it’s valued can help you maximize that value when the time comes — and it will come eventually. Here’s an overview of what I learned about business valuation when I worked with a broker to sell DNA Sports Center.
5. Hiring Trainers as Independent Contractors – Instructors and trainers are essential to most of our facilities, but sometimes it’s much easier to hire them as “independent contractors” than official employees. As the name suggests, independent contractors operate mostly independently of your business and are contracted to do a specific job that they control. Find out more in this article.

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