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Start Preparing for the New Year!
With 2008 just around the corner, this is the perfect time to get into the "New Year" spirit and take a fresh look at your business.
Take time off from the day-to-day pressures at work to recharge your batteries and begin planning for the new busines year. Now is the perfect time to assess your company's performance in 2007 and to consider the direction you want to move towards in the 2008.
Consider taking a day or two off to start your buinsess planning. If time off is out of the question, you could still book yourself strategic planning time each week to rework your long-term goals and consider changes to your business strategies for the fall and beyond.
Get Back to the Basics
You probably started out with a clear idea of the kind of consulting work you wanted to do. But is your business growing in the direction you want it to? Take a page from your own playbook and ask yourself some tough questions that will help you rise to the next level in your business:
- Is my work as challenging and interesting as I want it to be?
- Am I attracting the right kinds of clients and projects or am I just taking whatever comes my way?
- Do I enjoy the projects I'm working on?
- How can I stop spending so much time on administrative work and get back to the work I love; high level analysis, project development and implementation and customer interface?
- How can I land the bigger projects and make more money?
Answering these questions will help you get to the heart of your business goals. Remember, you can't grow unless you know where you want to go!
Alter Your Perspective
Having a vision of where your company can go is the single greatest motivator. Think of that vision as a final destination on your journey. Then think about how things will be different if you're successful in reaching your goals? What kinds of benefits will you enjoy? What new and interesting challenges might come your way?
Seeing things from a new perspective gives you the motivation to take control of your destiny, rather than wait for opportunities to come your way. Here are some ideas for making that vision a reality:
- Get on the Internet and discover what's new in your industry or market.
- Research new technologies that could help you work smarter (CRM systems, web communication devices or automated assessments tools)[link to sidebar]
- Update your skills: Learn how to run webinars, conduct your services in a virtual environment, master new skills or take your presentation abilities to the next level.
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Conduct a competitive analysis to find out what others are up to and consider offering new services, updating your marketing message or repackaging your services.
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Hit the streets and talk to clients, customers and advisors about your value proposition and strengths, and think about what needs are just beyond the horizon, waiting for you to tap.
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Reach out: Create a board of advisors; join professional roundtables, networking or mastermind groups to keep up with new and emerging trends.
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Use administrative and professional services to get the support and advice.
Take Back Your Time
Once you've made the decision to move ahead, embrace change! Set aside some time to write out your goals and post them where they're visible. Try to make at least one significant change each week that takes you closer to your goal and lets you TAKE BACK YOUR TIME!
Breaking through business plateaus and making positive change a reality takes energy, insight and lots of confidence. Put the right combination to work and you'll enjoy an exciting kickoff to your New Year. |
