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Early in the year is
Refocus Your Business Steps
- First, start by looking at the big picture and revisiting your processes.
- Are there areas in your business processes that require improvement?
- What will you do to change the issues that did not work last year?
- Schedule time for yourself to reflect on your business’s finances and how money comes in and goes out.
- Ask the “should” questions.
- What are the most significant projects you would like to complete before the year’s end?
- Determine the “why” in your goals .
First, start by looking at the big picture and revisiting your processes.
It’s essential to know where to start, and reviewing the procedures you already have in place will help you identify areas for improvement. Understanding where you started the year will open up opportunities to expand and move forward this year.
Are there areas in your business processes that require improvement?
Replacing or discontinuing certain business practices is acceptable. As a business grows and evolves, you may no longer need to do particular tasks. For example, I used to have a checklist of tasks to complete when I acquired a new client. After a while, I memorized the checklist and no longer needed it. Remember, change is good. If we do not make changes, nothing will transform into something even better.
What will you do to change the issues that did not work last year?
Break down the system to pinpoint the specific area that needs adjustment. The entire process doesn’t necessarily need a total overhaul. Writing down each step on a piece of paper allows you to step back and view the process as a whole.
Schedule time for yourself to reflect on your business’s finances and how money comes in and goes out.
Doing this once a week keeps you on track. Then, sitting down and reflecting once a quarter by viewing the entire business as a whole is usually enough, depending on the level of activity in the accounts. Reflect on what you have accomplished that quarter and ensure you move closer to your vision. Don’t forget to write down on paper if anything needs revisiting for next quarter.
Ask the “should” questions.
Should I do this….? Should I do that? We get approached with different ideas and opportunities. This is the time to determine if the shoulds outweigh the risks involved in the change.
What are the most significant projects you would like to complete before the year’s end?
Pick one or two projects to complete this year. We tend to do busy work and forget about the big picture work. Determine what you want to change, and establish simple step-by-step tasks that will get you closer to completing these projects. Remember that taking the time to do it a little bit each week is better than forcing yourself to get it done all at once.
Determine the “why” in your goals.
Deciding on what your business is doing will help you through those hard times. We tend to forget why we do what we do. So, spending the time to determine your goal will make the plan more processed and less of a wish.
It’s OK if you don’t need to answer all the questions or actions that come up, so allow yourself some wiggle room to say, “This can be pushed to next month, quarter, or year.”
I hope this refocus business post helps you get a clearer picture of your direction toward success. Feel free to share this with others and leave a comment below.
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I like using the new year to start new processes, not because there’s anything magical about January 1, but because it’s easier to remember the date if I need to refer to something I did “the old way.”