YOU may own a business, be a prospective business owner, or are just an employee at a company, and as the end of the year approaches, you may be wondering if you outdid yourself, or if there’s room for improvement in your professional life.

Nathaniel Peat, trustee to Ernst and Young Foundation and award-winning entrepreneur, said setting goals and achieving them is a way of determining whether you have experienced a good year as a professional.

Other signs include:

1. Making a profit

“Whether you are the person who received a promotion at work or had a boost in salary, or were the entrepreneur who has seen sales increase throughout the year, it is always a good sign when you have made a profit at the end of the year as a professional,” Peat said.

2. You got more customers

According to Peat, growing your customer and client base is a measure of success. “You may not have had profit but if you break even that is also a success because you didn’t make a loss,” Peat said.

3. You received great feedback

“Another sign of success is satisfaction that is felt by everyone in the professional demographic,” Peat said. If other professionals refer to your work, or share it on social media with positive feedback, then you’re doing well.

4. You met your targets and were rewarded

According to Peat, if you are an employee, you know it has been a successful year if you received the bonus you asked for, achieved your targets and worked well with your team.

5. There were no complaints

“If you had no complaints from staff, worked well in your business, had only satisfied customers and you managed to have some personal time outside of the business, then you had a successful year,” Peat said.

“Balancing your professional life with your personal life effectively helps to reduce stress and allows for peace of mind.”

6. You monetised your passion

“The greatest sign of a successful year is that you were able to align your passions with your work,” Peat said.