Start the Year with the End in Mind
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Now that the dust has settled on the festive season, now might be the ideal time to start thinking seriously about what you want to achieve in the coming year. I’ve shared a great deal of blog posts on the topic of goals in the past (here’s a list of twelve of my favourite), so today I plan to keep the advice really simple.
Here it is: start the year with the end in mind.
Why? Because I think it’s far easier to make wise resolutions that are true to who you are and what you want for your business when you come at the process from a different angle. Instead of starting out by thinking about the changes you want to make, I suggest that you begin by considering what you want to achieve.
So, at the end of 2017, where do you want to be? Do you have a clear picture of what you’d ideally like you and your business to look like in twelve month’s time?
Wherever you see yourself, try and be as specific as possible about what that means for you and your business. This process will be far more straight-forward if you think in concrete terms.
For example, do you want to…
…be working in a different industry?
…have opened a new premises?
…be working shorter hours?
…have more employees?
…be working with a wider client base?
…have introduced a new product or service?
…have earned a certain amount of money?
…have relocated your business?
…be focusing on a different kind of work?
…have an industry related Amazon bestseller?
…have a certain number of blog subscribers?
…be enjoying more time off?
…have won an award?
…have created a different kind of income?
…have a successful social media presence?
Once you’ve settled on where you want to be at the end of the year, it’s time to consider what you’ll need to do in order to get there.
What individual steps will you need to take? Are there new habits you need to build? Skills you need to learn? People you need to get on side? Will you need to change the way you work on a daily basis? Will you need to reach out to new potential client bases? Would it be helpful to engage support from other professionals?
The more steps you’re able to break your big dream down into, the better. Big goals are far easier to achieve when they’re split into tiny bitesize chunks! Write down each step and work out what you can do to make it happen: and make this list your business blueprint for the next twelve months.
Can I help to cheer you on with your goals throughout the year ahead? Get in touch to discuss how my services might work for you.
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