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It's been said and written before and we know it's about setting goals, realistic goals! BUT read on, there is more to it, there are more STEPS TO SHAPING your BEST EVER YEAR.
Let’s begin with these 5 Steps:
1.Believe it's possible: To quote, Theordore Rossevelt, 'believe you can and your halfway there'. When we dream and want to turn those dreams into reality, its important to have self belief built into our thinking. Our habits, physical and mental affect results. Anything is possible! Ditch negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. When we focus on positive action we will experience greater satisfaction, happiness and successful outcomes.
2.Let the past go: Close the door on unfinished business, unresolved issues. Reflect but avoid carrying or bringing the unwanted past into the future. Acknowledge the issue, what you wanted, what happened and how, and what you can learn from the experience, then move on. Going forward, make behavioural changes if, as needed.
3.Plan your Future: Be the designer and creator of your destiny, your future. This is about setting goals, SMARTER Goals. Goals must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timeframes, Evaluation and Revision. (Read more at our Blog, ‘Turn your Smart Goals into Smarter Goals’).
The Christmas tree and decorations are carefully stored, presents welcomed or discretely hidden away and you are now dealing with a hangover, not of spirits consumed but of debt acquired during that shopping spending frenzy! Sound familiar! You are not alone, but how to deal with Debt Hangover!
Here are 4 tips to guide you.
- Get help if needed: Feeling overwhelmed, need advice, contact a professional financial advisor. They have the expertise to guide and support you. Don’t wait until Debt collectors are knocking on your door.
- Consolidate your debts: if you are juggling multiple accounts, debts, consolidation may be an option. For example, with several credit cards there might be the opportunity to move balances into one. Speak with your providers to see what deals are on offer.
- Prioritise your payments: Arrange payments in order of what is due now, overdue or if legal action threatened. Asap contact your creditors, don't throw unpaid bills in the rubbish, that doesn't solve it!
What, Why, and How!
Interested, read on and answer the following questions
- Are you a small Business owner
- Do you want your share of the market
- And would you like, WANT more than that?
- Yes! then go find your NICHE!
Finding your niche will differentiate you from your competitors! You will gain an edge and stand out!
KEEP READING if you want to know more! Let’s begin at the beginning
What is a Business niche: In simple terms, a Business niche is a specialized or particular area of a broader market that your Business specifically serves.
This may be defined by any of the following:
- Quality level: handmade, premium, economical
- Pricing: luxury, discount
- Psychographics: interests, values, attitudes
- Demographics: age, gender, education or income level
Why does finding and having a niche matter? For small Businesses it is key to creating a more focused approach, providing a steady source of revenue and attracting loyal followers, customers. And who doesn’t want those?
It's about finding, establishing your identity, your point of difference, your uniqueness, your approach that makes you 'stand-out', to be noticed.
AND there are benefits! Benefits such as:
Ho! Hum, not for you! Heard it all before BUT before you switch off or delete me, please take the time to consider the following.
Simply, a New Year's resolution is a promise someone makes for the new year. Regardless of what it is, the resolution is about committing to a goal to improve life in the coming year. There are many reasons why we feel the need for change. Such as, to improve, be more successful, to grow psychologically, emotionally, socially. Sound familiar?
One approach is to focus on growth rather than change for change-sake, or dwelling on short comings. Growth is to look for opportunities for improvement without feeling guilt or regret! It may be building on the areas you are already strong in or challenging yourself to push boundaries and try something new or different.
And yes, life isn't perfect, sometimes our resolutions don’t come to fruition, but isn't it better to have set goals, dreamed and tried, rather than having never aspired to achieve something. Aim to be the best version of yourself of living the life you want.
It's a New Year- Set your Goals - READ ON to get started!
7 Top Tips to help you achieve the end results you want:
- Set a SMART goal, (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, with a time limit)
- Turn your Resolutions into routines.
As we near the end of the year, it’s a common statement, ‘where has the year gone?” followed by ‘what have I achieved and, critically asking, what goals didn’t I meet?
Don’t stop there! Be bold! Reminisce, review, re-evaluate and be reinvigorated. Take action! Look back, look at the present, then look forward!
For the Business owner this is a crucial exercise by providing insight into what actually happened, identifying the ‘wins and losses’ and using it as the opportunity to explore possibilities and untapped potential.
Smart Business Proprietors will be asking, ‘what are our results, what went well and what didn’t?’ What puzzles and problems did we face and solve? The highs, lows, challenges, successes and setbacks. It’s the full gamut!
On a personal level take time to think about your Business values and what drives you. Are you aligned, in tune with your vision and goals, on track or are changes needed for the next year? Daunting! You might be thinking this is all too hard to think about.
REFLECTION IS IMPORTANT! Keep reading to find out the benefits!
Reflecting, taking the time, and taking a step back, to review, analyse, evaluate and learn from our successes and failures is a productive and empowering exercise. We can take the lessons learned into the New Year as a foundation for future growth.
Embrace reflection with enthusiasm and energy!
Whether you are a solo operator or have employees reflecting on the year has benefits for all concerned. If you created goals at the start of the year revisit them and Business Goals should also be reviewed. The key is to look objectively at the outcomes.
Importantly, ‘reflection’ is not about judging, or criticism it is about learning from our experiences, doing more of what worked, making improvements to areas where needed and being excited about the future, what you can take and create!
Give kudos where due, to yourself or employees. Express gratitude and give recognition, as it brings out the best in most! And learn from setbacks or mistakes, they provide opportunities for growth and self-improvement.
To help you get started here are some steps to follow.
List your successes. For example, Record sales, projects completed on time & budget, notable accomplishments/ achievements.
In drilling down ask these 4 key questions:
- What happened to make it a success
- Why do we think it happened- what contributed to the result
- What problems or opportunities did it present
- What action did we take
In a Team setting ask members to share their experiences. It’s essential all members participate and contribute to the activity. Ensure problems are heard, questions are encouraged and answered and challenges acknowledged.
List setbacks, problems, failures. What product, project, or process didn’t work? What, why, how!
Drill down asking the same 4 questions
What next
- Ask, identify and explore what are the ‘game-changes’ for the coming year.
- With your Team, revisit the Business Mission, Vision and goals.
- Together, create the vision for the coming year.
Congratulations, you, and your Team are now better prepared and equipped to take on the coming year, keen to contribute, create and achieve mutual goals.
Your Accounting Partner
Your Management Accounting Partner
Your Expansion Engineer
Your Special Projects Partner