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Early in the year is
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- First, start by looking at the big picture and revisiting your processes.
- Are there areas in your business processes that need to be changed?
- What will you do to change issues that did not work last year?
- Schedule time for yourself to reflect on your business’ finances and how money comes in and goes out.
- Ask the “should” questions.
- What are the biggest projects you would like to get done before the end of the year?
- Determine the “why” in your goals ?
First, start by looking at the big picture and revisiting your processes.
It’s important to know where to start, and reviewing the procedures you already have in place will help you see the areas you want to improve. Understanding where you started the year will open you up to the opportunities to expand and move forward this year.
Are there areas in your business processes that need to be changed?
Replacing or stopping the use of certain business practices is OK. As a business grows and evolves, you may no longer need to do particular tasks. For example, I used to have a checklist (Affiliate Link) of things to do when I got a new client. After a while, I memorized the checklist (Affiliate Link) and didn’t need it anymore. Remember, change is good. If we do not make changes, nothing will transform into something even better.
What will you do to change issues that did not work last year?
Break down the system to pinpoint the right area to adjust. 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’ 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 how much activity you do in the accounts. Walk through what you have accomplished that quarter and make sure you get 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 biggest projects you would like to get done before the end of the year?
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.
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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.”