“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”
-Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Reach out and grab the opportunity the new year brings! Each New Year’s Day seems to bring with it an urge to stop and reflect on the past and hope for the future. You ask yourself,
• What did I accomplish in 2007?
• What regrets do I have from 2007?
• What great things will I do in 2008?
• What are my new goals for 2008?
• How will I reach my new goals?
When you first opened your business you may have written a formal business plan or maybe you just wrote yourself notes to layout what your business would be and added a series of “To Do” lists to make it happen. Whatever your planning method, you had a vision of what your business would look like, some goals you wanted to reach, and a “To Do” list to help you get there.
Now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity the new year brings to update your business plans.
• Do you still have the same vision to guide your company or has it changed over time?
• Do all your employees know and understand what your company vision is and support it?
• Have you reached the goals you set?
• If not, are they still your goals?
• If you reached your goals, have you set new goals?
• What do you need to change to reach your goals?
• Do you have a plan to get you there?
“I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head.”
-Jack Nicklaus
Just like Jack Nicklaus, you may have a very sharp, in-focus picture of your goals in your head. Unfortunately, very few business goals can be accomplished without the help of others. Does your business team also have the same picture in their head? Do they know what they must do to help you reach your goals? How can you help them, help you?
Here are some things you can do to bring your goals into focus for everyone. For each major goal
• Assign a Single Accountable Person to Lead Each Goal
• Set a Due Date
• Make Sure You Provide the Resources Needed
• Give Those Responsible the Authority to Act
• Hold Yourself and Your Team Accountable for Results
While you develop your goals remember to keep them SMART.
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Really Desired
• Timed
Hold yourself and your team accountable for RESULTS. Implementation is critical! You must follow-up and follow-through to ensure you reach your goals. Don’t let the day to day activity in your business take full control and distract you from reaching your goals in the new year.
“To will is to select a goal, determine a course of action that will bring one to that goal, and then hold to the action till the goal is reached. The key is action.”
-Michael Hanson
Here are some questions to help you get started as you begin laying out a plan for the new year.
What are you currently doing? Just like using a map, you must know where you are as well as where you are going to figure out how to get there.
What are your best business practices? How can you build on these for greater growth?
What are your worst practices? How will you change them to meet your goals?
What are your success stories? Use these to celebrate and instill confidence in your team for achieving more in the new year.
What are your challenges? How will you overcome your challenges.
Did you involve your team in developing some of your goals?
Take some time to answer these questions honestly and write your answers down. Determine at least three major goals you will commit to for the new year. Layout what action you need to take over the next 90 days to begin moving toward your vision and meeting your goals. Write these actions down, refer to them often and share them with someone who will help hold you accountable for results.
“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.”
-Anatole France
