Ten Ways Entrepreneurs Can Embrace The New Year

By Dan Boudreau

Riding change is like playing in the surf. It’s thrilling when you’re ahead of the game and on top of the wave; it’s not a lot of fun when you’re feeling overwhelmed and battered by the surf. One of the biggest challenges we all face is dealing with ongoing change.

As we wrap up 2010, here are a few ways to stay on top of change and get the most out 2011.

1. Build on Success. Take a look backward and give yourself a pat on the back for all of the things you’ve achieved during the past year. Make a list of your wins and hang it in your work area.
2. Kill the Kludge. Identify 5 inefficient or wasteful areas in your business. Eliminate products, services and processes that no longer work for you. Trim the fat, control expenses, get rid of excess, and streamline.
3. Set Personal Fitness Goals. Most small businesses ride on the owner’s shoulders, at least in the early stages. It’s too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day activities and forget to nurture yourself. No matter how busy it gets, build healthy eating and exercise into your daily regime.
4. Chart Your Path. After reviewing the past year, take a look forward. Decide where you want to be at the end of 2011. Identify what you want more of, what you want less of. Think strategically and write your top 10 intentions for the year.
5. Set Goals. Write your top 3 goals for each of your intentions. SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time dated. Break larger goals into smaller bite-sized tasks.
6. Foster an Attitude of Service. Businesses exist to serve customers. Your most powerful source of business is through word of mouth advertising from happy customers. On the dark side, it’s difficult to measure the cost unhappy customers can wreak on your business. Make it your priority to provide outstanding customer service this year to every customer, every day.
7. Beef Up Your Marketing. Review all aspects of your marketing plan, including logos, graphics, copy, and all forms of online and offline advertising. Visit a few of your competitor’s websites for new marketing strategies or ideas to try.
8. Network Vigorously. Collaborating with other business owners is one effective way to expand your business this year. Networking events are opportunities to share your wisdom and learn from your peers. You can stay up on what’s working or not working for others. Grow your network on LinkedIn, expand your horizons on Twitter, or start a fan page and do some advertising on Facebook.
9. Take a Few Risks. Very little is gained in business without taking risks – calculated, well-planned risks. Take a look at your business, figure out what needs to change, develop your plan, and go after it with passion.
10. Take Action. Don’t get buried in the planning. Know that the plan is your teacher; without action, a plan is just another dust magnet. Pick your top three goals and get busy.

Finally, have fun! A small business owner’s payment is not always financial. The reality is that many small businesses are not profitable every day. But if you’re working at something you love to do, every day can be enjoyable. As a business owner, a part of your reward will always arise from enjoying your work, and from the freedom you have to choose how you spend your time. Be sure to exercise your right as boss and map play into every day.

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“Dan Boudreau is President and CEO of Macrolink Action Plans Inc. and the RiskBuster Business Plan Oasis at http://www.riskbuster.com Writing your own business plan can be easy, fast and fun! Instantly download a free copy of Dan’s popular fast-track business plan template, The Shell, when you subscribe to the RiskBuster Business Plan Insider at http://www.riskbuster.com/.”

 

 

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