This time of year, we often contemplate New Year's resolutions. What's at the top of the list for many people? Exercising and getting your body in shape. A noble thought, to be sure, but I have an even better idea. How about exercising your mind so you can get the most out of it?

Resolve to try something new to keep your brain challenged. Just as doing the same physical exercises over and over again works only a specific part of the body, doing the same mental work repeatedly tends to narrow your focus and limit your potential.

Clearing the clutter and cobwebs out of your mind is not complicated, but it does require some practice for those who are constantly on overdrive. And you all know who you are!

One of my favorite books, "Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice" by Napoleon Hill and Dennis Kimbro, offers wonderfully well-defined advice about caring for your mind:

"Assume for a moment that you have in your possession a million dollars in gold. Would you protect it? Would you safeguard this treasure? Would you respect its value? Of course you would. You might even hire bodyguards or install security devices to ensure its safety.

"In comparison, your mind and self-image are worth far more than one million dollars. They're priceless! Your mind is the exclusive source of all you will create spiritually, financially or materially in your life. Your level of joy, happiness and peace of mind originates from one place -- your mind. Now ask yourself, do you protect your mind as carefully as you protect your physical assets?"

Beyond the oft-repeated advice to read a novel, take a walk, learn a new language and so on, there are plenty of other options that address long-term mind exercises.

A growing trend among business professionals is meditation. Meditation clears and relaxes your mind, which can have a significant impact on your physical health. And meditation doesn't require any special equipment or clothing, just an open mind and a quiet environment free of distractions.

Get comfortable and clear your mind. Be conscious of only your breathing. Don't direct your thoughts in any particular direction; let them drift freely. How long you meditate is up to you.

This is a simplified description, and there are many different meditation practices. Check online for coaching in a technique that will help you.

Back at work, learning and remembering new information can grow more difficult with every passing year. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of the knowledge game:

-- Focus on concentrating. Distractions are the bane of any learning attempt. If you're attending a seminar or training session, sit near the instructor and maintain eye contact. Let your focused attention do the job.

-- Say it out loud. Read aloud the material you're trying to learn and repeat out loud the facts you want to retain. This way, both your eyes and your ears are delivering information to your brain.

-- Tame frustration. If you're getting frustrated over material you're trying to learn, remind yourself that getting emotional will only hamper your ability to retain information. Step back and take a break.

There was once a man who wanted to gain power over his mind. He heard there was a monk in Tibet who could make this come true for him, so the man traveled through the Himalayas. When the man finally met the monk, the monk replied casually, "Yes, my friend, attaining supernatural powers is simple. For this you merely need a mantra. Just say, 'Buddham Sharanam Gachchami, Dhammam Sharanam Gachchami, Sangham Sharanam Gachchami' three times -- and whatever you do, do not think of monkeys."

This was going to be a cinch, the man thought. He wondered at the direction to not think of monkeys, asking himself, "Why would I think of monkeys?"

Then he sat down to try this new practice. But as he chanted the first words of the mantra, the first thought that came to his mind was "monkeys!" He tried chanting louder and imposing a more powerful order to not think of monkeys. Still, all he could think of was monkeys. In fact, he found that monkeys now roamed about his consciousness everywhere.

The monk, seeing the struggle taking place, smiled and said, "Whenever you try to force your mind to go in one direction, you can be very sure it will always go the other way."

Mackay's Moral: Nurturing and mastering your mind is anything but monkey business.

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Whether you ever did -- or still do -- there are some things about the jolly old elf that wise businesses should consider emulating if they want to establish a year-round aura of good will. Santa has attributes that easily translate beyond the holidays. Here are some I think are worth noting:

-- Good reputation. You can't buy a good reputation; you must earn it. Santa has a positive reputation because he is a magnanimous soul who stands for goodness and generosity.

Nothing is more important than a good reputation in building a successful business. Stand for what is right, and you won't get knocked down.

-- Fun-loving. Santa's elves always look as if they are working very hard, yet loving their jobs. A fun workplace is more productive and attracts people and profits. Your company motto should be, "Thank God it's Monday." You should want your employees to look forward to coming to work.

-- Great memory for names. Santa never forgets a name. If you want people to know how much you care, show them how much you remember. The sweetest-sounding word in the English language is your name being said by someone else. There are many methods for remembering names, such as name association and repetition. It's an important skill to develop.

-- Creative gift giver. Santa's gifts relate to the recipient, not the giver. To do the job right, you have to know your customer as a living, breathing human being with likes, dislikes and interests. A knock-your-socks-off gift doesn't have to be expensive. A gift that shows you have paid attention and have taken a genuine personal interest in your customer says a lot more than a dollar sign.

Santa also understands the importance of rewards. I hate to say this to Santa, but Thanksgiving cards still pack a bigger punch than Christmas cards because they stand out from the crowd.

-- Good listener. If you remember sitting on Santa's lap, you probably also remember that he paid close attention to your requests. You can win more friends with your ears than with your mouth. People who feel like they're being listened to feel accepted and appreciated rather than isolated and rejected. They feel as if they are being taken seriously and what they say really matters.

-- Great smile. Santa's flowing beard may hide a lot of his face, but never his happy smile. I learned years ago that one of the most powerful things you can do to have influence over others is to smile at them. That's why I never underestimate the value of a smile. It should be standard equipment for all people -- at work and after hours.

-- Humility. Santa doesn't take credit for all the happiness he spreads. It's refreshing to come across co-workers, bosses or even customers who have enough self-confidence to let their work speak for their abilities and achievements. Humility is becoming a lost art, yet it's not difficult to practice. It means you realize that others have been involved in your success.

-- Enthusiasm. How can Santa Claus continue to do the same job year after year? He's a pro. He gives it everything he's got. His focus and enthusiasm are obvious. He loves what he does.

If you aren't getting excited about hitting the pavement every day, it will show. You get what you give -- nothing. Enthusiasm is contagious. Start an epidemic.

-- Positive attitude. Santa promotes good will and good behavior wherever he goes. He encourages children to "be good for goodness' sake." Thinking positive has no negative. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and success. If you get used to behaving in a positive way, you will form good habits. And your habits will help define the kind of person you are.

-- Loyalty. Santa has his elves, just like the Lone Ranger had Tonto. One of the first qualities I look for in employees and friends is loyalty.

-- Respects deadlines. If ever there was a job with deadline pressure, Santa has it. Getting the job done on time is essential in building trust and loyalty.

-- Good judge of character. A naughty or nice list isn't necessary for most businesses. But demanding that people in your organization act with complete professionalism and respect for your customers is not up for discussion.

-- Well-dressed. Say what you want, but Santa dresses for success!

Mackay's Moral: Happy and safe holidays to all!

Sometimes the columns that get the biggest reaction are those that offer the simplest advice. A couple of weeks ago I wrote about street-smart ideas and was inundated with requests for more. A few readers shared their ideas, too. Because I truly believe in the importance of street smarts for success, I'm continuing the list.

Next idea: There will always be a place in the world for anyone who says, "I'll take care of it," and then does it. Don't imply that a chore is beneath you, or that you are too busy to handle the mundane. Sure, you can call in help from subordinates (if you have them), but in order to share the credit, you need to do some of the work.

Next idea: Circle the wagons. For the past 50 years, every time I have wanted to persuade a person of power, I've found a couple friends who have influence with the person to approach him or her from different directions to get the result I want. These are people who know I will come to their aid in return, and who act professionally and discreetly on my behalf.

Next idea: Send in the clones. Whether you are buying a house or a car, send in a clone to kick the tires first. Your clone claims to be ready to buy right now and makes a ridiculously low offer. The goal is to find out the lowest acceptable price. Then you know the real cost.

Next idea: No check, please. When hosting a business breakfast, lunch or dinner, I always take care of the check in advance so it is never brought to the table. I call ahead and give the restaurant my credit card number and tell them to put a 20 percent gratuity on the bill. I have a lot of surprised people when we leave and they never see a bill.

Next idea: Take good care of yourself. It's difficult to find the best doctor or professional in a pinch. Say there are 10 doctors performing a specific procedure at a medical center. I assure you, they do not all have the same skill level. It is your job to be resourceful and find out who is world class before you have an emergency. The same concept applies to lawyers, accountants and so on. As fatalistic as it may sound, if you build a strong network before a problem arises, you have just solved one of your problems.

Next idea: Waiting rooms are named that for a reason. Try to schedule appointments -- whether it be with a doctor, dentist or whomever -- for the first or second slot of the day, or the first appointment right after lunch so you won't have to wait as long.

Next idea: Raise money for charity in return for favors. If someone asks a favor of me, I ask him to write a check to my favorite charity in return for my help. And I am willing to do the same for him.

Next idea: Treat waitstaff in restaurants with intelligence and compassion. People often evaluate how you handle others. Treat everyone with respect.

Next idea: Get your hands dirty. If you need to make a good impression on people, discover the chores they hate and then help them out. That might be doing the minutes for a board meeting, or it could be making fundraising calls. And maybe the request doesn't fit my skill set, but I can help find someone who can help.

Next idea: Gatekeepers can open a lot of doors for you. Treat them with dignity. Respect their power. And above all, acknowledge their help. I tell them that I prefer to work with them. Gatekeepers make and predetermine more decisions than people ever realize.

Next idea: Be prepared for the worst. It's critical to ask yourself or your staff what can go wrong. Prime example: A couple of years ago when the Indianapolis Colts were playing the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl and it rained during the entire game, then-Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was prepared. Every year he practices a wet-ball drill with his center. He takes a bucket of water, dips the football in, and takes repeated snaps so he is prepared. The Bears quarterback didn't prepare for the weather and fumbled the game away.

Mackay's Moral: The smarter I get, the more I realize I'm not finished learning.