How to Get Back to Business and End the Year Strong
Ending strong is interesting because the emphasis is on the ending versus the beginning. So what I mean is, no matter where you start, you can finish better off than where you are right now. Isn’t that exciting? Here are some tips on ending your business year in the best light:
Have a ‘victory’ review. Instead of listing the things that did not go well, think for a moment of the things that did. For example, “What accomplishments did you achieve, any sales records? What new marketing tactic did you try? How many new customers did you add? What did you learn about your business or yourself that you didn’t know before.” Get the picture? The idea is to focus on what went right, I’m sure there’s more than you think!
Focus on one (1) goal for the start of the year. Often times when I coach entrepreneurs their issue is not a lack of doing, it’s too much doing! If you only focus on 1 objective or goal, it gives you perspective. For example, if you’ve been putting off scheduling a teleseminar then make the goal to send out a message to your list and schedule it. If the goal is to develop a marketing plan, then set 1 goal to list your options of getting it done, i.e., finding books or workbooks, getting marketing consultant referrals, or taking time each day to write 5 minutes on ways you could affect your audience. Make sure your goal is S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and timely). But remember, only 1!
End each day with what happened positively at your business. I know how challenging this could be but focus for a minute on what went well, then write it down. Perhaps a customer entered your store for the first time – a new opportunity to make a great impression. Perhaps, you finally sold your older piece of inventory that had been on your floor for months or you got another person to sign up for your ezine. Whatever it is, acknowledge it everyday, it will get easier with time.
Make an extra effort to connect with at least one of your customers on a more personal level each week. As I say all the time, people still do business with people. Adding the genuine human touch is better than making a sale, it is making a connection. So call a customer and thank them for their support all year. Give someone an additional gift without their asking. Just make someone’s day with the gift that’s been given you, your own business!
A great start to all of this is by reading my article It All Starts with Your Strategy. You can view the article here.
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