New Year’s Resolutions for Your Business
The new year is fast approaching, and you may be thinking of resolutions for a healthier, happier, and more productive new year. This month is also a good time to reflect on your business’s progress this year, and how you plan to improve moving forward. Here are some New Year’s resolutions to help you make the most of next year.
1. Set Attainable Business Goals
No doubt you’ve already been having discussions about your business plan for next year, and what goals you hope to achieve. Your goals may be aggressive, but make sure they are also realistic. Unattainable “pipe dream” goals can lead to a lot of doubting and frustration when winter rolls around next year. Commit to realistic goals based on your progress so far, and map out the shorter-term goals that will help you get there.
2. Learn a New Skill
This is a mainstay on many personal New Year’s resolutions, whether it means learning a new language, how to be a better cook, or taking self-defense classes. However, there are also many new things you can learn to help you be more successful in your business. There are tons of Continuing Education classes to help you broaden your horizons and manage your business more effectively. Or maybe you’d like to finally become an expert on Microsoft Excel, or the new software your business has been using. Think of the challenges you face on a regular basis, and what you could learn to help overcome them.
3. Modernize Your Business
And while you’re thinking about the challenges you face regularly, consider any technological barriers that contribute to these issues. Are you struggling to analyze your data effectively? Consider upgrading your CRM software. Is there a particular piece of office equipment that really slows down day-to-day responsibilities? It may be time for a new one. Investments in new technology are not always a welcome expense, but if it will pay off in the long run, next year might be the time to finally upgrade.
4. Do More Networking
Getting together with other local realtors is a great way to learn new trends and spark some new ideas. If you didn’t have enough time for events or trade shows with your local organization this year, resolve yourself to attend a certain number of events in the new year. Making the time to network can have a tremendous impact on your business– you’ll never know what opportunities you might find.
5. Get More Involved in the Community
It can sometimes be easy to forget about local events until the last minute. This year, make a point to plan out the community gatherings and sponsorship opportunities you want to be involved in well ahead of time. Be strategic about your selection- find the events that will give you the most exposure, and spread them out evenly enough so that you’re engaged with your community throughout the year.
6. Cut Your Losses
Listen, every idea isn’t going to be a winner. Now is the best time to evaluate your strategies for the year and figure out what’s been working. Is there a marketing campaign you had high hopes for, which just hasn’t been delivering? If you’ve done all that could be done for this initiative, it may be time to cut it loose. If a business relationship has been nothing but cause you stress, then there may not be room for it in the new year. Optimize your focus for the new year, and you may just free up some time and budget for some new initiatives.
7. Make Time for You
Along with all your new business initiatives, make sure to schedule time for yourself. This is not only crucial to avoid burn out, but it can also have a significant impact on your health. Start planning out your vacations as soon as reasonably possible, so that you’re committed to taking them. And also commit to staying away from work at certain times of the month, week, or day to focus on what’s important to you. This could mean committing to taking off weekends, or not logging on to your computer after a certain time of the day. Find the schedule that works for your life, and resolve yourself to stick to it.
