My Clever Assistant
Successful people take the time before the end of the year to prepare for the coming year. Why? Because business planning can make a remarkable difference in their business, the work they do, and their personal life. Without a clearly defined purpose or plan, you will find yourself wandering into the New Year without knowing where you are headed or why. That’s like leaving for an unknown destination without a map. How do you know when or IF you’ve arrived if you don’t know where you are going?
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ― Benjamin Franklin
Here are five ways to prepare you to launch into the New Year with enthusiasm.
#1 Lessons Learned from the Past Year
Review your goals for the past year. Did you meet them? List your biggest wins and losses and what happened to make them wins and losses. Do you have any goals that are no longer relevant?
Making a list of what worked and what didn’t should help you identify the primary lessons learned that you can use for the coming year. If you have employees, share these core lessons with them.
#2 What do your Customers/Clients Think
Are you asking your customers for feedback? If you are, use that information to plan your goals for the coming year. If you haven’t done this recently, ask your customers what they think about your services or your products. What do they like and dislike. Do you know their pain points? Create services and products that offer solutions to your clients.
Your customers are your best source to know what services or products to offer in the coming year. If you are not meeting their needs, they will take their business elsewhere. And without customers, you really don’t have a business, right?
#3 Talk to Your Coach/Mentors
Do you have a business coach? If not, why not? You’ll be surprised at how much clarity and focus about your business they can bring to the table.
Reach out to people who have done what you are planning to do. Ask them about their challenges and for any advice they are willing to offer you. They know the shortcuts and pitfalls. Getting their insight could be priceless.
Build relationships with people in your industry who are more successful than you. If you are not a part of their inner circle, you can still gain insight by following them on social media, reading their blogs, sign up for their ezines, etc. Following the influencers in your industry and hiring a business coach are activities you might consider throughout the year; not only at year’s end.
#4 Identify Your Bright Shiny Opportunity
Identify your biggest business and income growth potential and focus your time and energies on nurturing that opportunity to fruition. You may have to make adjustments to your plan along the way but don’t give up on your bright, shiny opportunity.
#5 And Finally – Set SMARTER Goals
Your goals should be:
- Specific – goals must be focused, targeted, and precise. (What, When, Why)
- Measurable – you have to be able to measure your goals to determine if you’ve reached them.
- Achievable – set yourself up for success; not failure. It’s fine to aim for the stars, but set goals that you can achieve with the time and resources you have available to you.
- Realistic/Relevant – do your goals match your business objectives?
- Time-Based – set target dates to determine if goal is met.
- Evaluated – be willing and ready to evaluate and adjust goals as necessary.
- Recorded – if they are not written down, they are just thoughts and wishes.
Are you ready to grab the opportunities available to you in the New Year? Take the time to prepare yourself and you’ll start the New Year with a renewed passion and purpose.
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