As we enter the mid-point of the fourth quarter, focus can quickly shift from what we need to do right now to what are we going to do next year. To stay focused on year-end goals and end 2015 strong, we shared five key tips in yesterday's Promotional Consultant Today. If you missed those tips, here's five more from blogger Deborah Shane:

1. Set realistic and achievable goals. Nothing is worse than setting unrealistic goals and expectations, when you know in your heart of hearts they are too lofty. I know they sound good, but are they really achievable?

Goals are most effective when we set them realistically within what we know we are capable of. What's important is setting goals, committing to working on them and making progress. Progress builds momentum. Goals are markers to progress, not absolutes.

2. Use your mentors and support team. We succeed together not solo. The most successful people I know have an active, diverse and accessible support team, and select mentors they can tap into and rely on. This builds our sense of community, of belonging and our service to others. The more we show we belong to our community, profession and industry, the more we will be included.

Developing a sense of inclusion goes a long way in today's business world. Our goal as professionals is to help others succeed, which makes us succeed. Give first to the right people and watch what happens.

3. Improve your digital footprint. On the internet, a digital footprint is the word used to describe the trail, traces or "footprints" that people leave online. Are you leaving your footprint?

Engage, show up, contribute, respond and be a part of where people gather and populate online and in person. Leadership is about contribution and sharing your voice. Use your experience and wisdom to educate and inspire.

4. Show your gratitude and heart. Nothing makes a bigger impact or is more memorable than a person's authenticity. Be who you say you are and always lead with your best qualities, ideas, actions and thoughts. Get to know what your best assets are and use them for the greatest good.

When we touch people with kindness, caring and help, we are doing our best and fulfilling our greatest purpose. Gratitude is an action word. Everyday we have unlimited possibility to serve and do good.

5. Commit to your health, fitness and well-being. Without our mental, emotional and spiritual health and well-being, we will never live up to our potential. The best personal commitment we can make to ourselves is to be the healthiest we can be each day. Success and well being are great partners and create a state of mind that helps us through the most challenging times of change and transition.

There is a euphoric feeling when a marathoner gets into that running groove in the second half of the race and pushes through the walls to cross the finish line. Remember, in small business, careers and life, we are training like a marathoner not a sprinter. Don't sprint into 2016 uncontrollably; glide in with power, strength and confidence.

Source: Deborah Shane is a past staff writer for Small Business Trends covering marketing, branding and social media topics. Her diverse career background combines entertainment, education, sales and media. She has performed on stage, taught in the classroom and won awards for her broadcast radio sales professionalism and small-business content marketing. Her book Career Transition— Make the Shift tells her career transition story and how anyone can move their career in the direction they want it to go. Her newest book is #trusthewhy - Fundamentals and Values Get You Through Any Cycle.