1) Establish practical goals.

Establishing valuable goals is an important practice.  Go ahead and reach for the sky and pick several "pie in the sky" fantasy goals that you spend ten percent of your time on but the majority of the goals you set should be goals that are achievable, rather than unreachable dreams that only lead to frustration.

2) Business planning needs to be a weekly event.

If you want a healthy, growing business, planning is imperative. Planning and reflection enables you take inventory of what did  and did not work and forces you set a new course and rethink prior goals.  Put time aside every week to review and amend.  this will get you in a focused and relaxed frame of mind.  

3) Delegate Delegate Delegate.

Running a small business is not an easy job.  It's easy to trick ourselves into believing that we need to do every task.  This may be why we so often feel so tired and frustrated.  Decide to let someone else do some of the tasks for a change. Delegation is the answer to a balanced work life.

4) Networking groups are worth joining.

Talking to other business owners inspires new ideas, puts you in touch with new contacts and creates potential business opportunities.  It could be a mixed group of professionals and business owners designed for networking or an organization dedicated to a specific industry for more focused interaction.  Making an effort to be a part of a group(s) will invigorate you and your company.

5) Give back.

Decide to find a cause that matters to you, and give what you can.  Be a mentor, serve on a committee, make regular donations or volunteer.  Be a part of making the place you live a more worthwhile place.  Nothing will seed and grow goodwill for you and your business better.  Giving is much more fulfilling than getting.

6) Relentless self promotion.

Promotion needs to be a priority.  The job of promoting a small business and attracting new clients or customers usually takes the lowest position in the list of tasks.  Hire a marketing expert or take the time to learn how to create a marketing plan on your own.  

7) If it's not working get rid of it.

Not everything works.  If a technique or a product or a business relationship isn't working for you, drop it.  Move on and invest your time and energy on other things.  Amazing results will happen with consistency.  Remember weekly planning and charting.

8) Take time for yourself.

You must take the time to recharge.  All work and no play is a formula for mental calamity. Schedule time regularly into your calendar for yourself.  Commit to this and you will be a much better business person in the long run.

9) Keep on learning. 

Learning new skills both personal and professional will add a new element of interest to your life and contribute to a healthy balance in work and life.  Delegate, remember?  This is how you will find the time to learn.

Achieving a healthy work-life balance is like maintaining a good relationship; you have to keep working on it. But if you apply these New Year's resolutions throughout the year, your success is certain!

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Nothing contained herein is to be considered legal advice. Always seek legal advice when evaluating any legal document.