Many of us start with with new year resolutions and by now (three weeks into the new year) some of us have given up but others are forging ahead making changes. A couple of weeks ago I asked some of my LinkedIn Contacts what resolutions were most going to impact their small business. It was a joy to be included in these entrepreneurs lives and their goals – and to get a few tips that I can share with you. Resolutions ranged from using technology for time efficiency, more focus on business-building activities as well as more time spent on creative pursuits. I’ve included their responses below.
So, What new year’s resolution will most impact your small business?
Regardless where you are today with your own resolutions, let’s choose now what you’d like to do that will impact your small business this year. I invite you to add a comment to this post telling me what it is that you plan to do to improve your business this year. And, just below the posts you’ll see news of a NEW GOALS WORKSHOP that I’d like to invite you to attend in early February.
More Creative Challenges
To add a more creative. challenging business to my portfolio…focus on getting Embark up and tried, and find some other inspiring business idea to pursue, in my “spare time”! Cheryl Hayman Hayman Strategy www.haymanstrategy.com
Working ON not just IN my business
My impact-making resolution is a simple one – to focus the majority of my working time, effort and resources ON my business and less time IN my business! Alison Barnes Alpha Event Management www.alphaevents.com.au Suzi, I think you hit the nail on the head … dedicated time to work ON your business rather than In your business is a great goal for 2009… I would add that creating specific measurable achiveable reulsts oriented goals for every 90 days would be the next step… in keeping that resolution… as a former Naval Flight Officer … the practice of planning the mission and communicating that plan to the team is the only way to execute your plan with precision… Kevin Hannes Action Coach DFW www.actioncoachdfw.com
Marketing and Networking
That’s simple, and something I just blogged about! Marketing. I plan on doing everything possible to get my name out there with marketing and networking using linkedin; twitter; my blog and everything else I can think of. Kathryn Harmacek Your Virtual Aide www.your-virtual-aide.com
Focus, Productivity and Organisation
I’ve gotten more accomplished in December of 2008 alone, than I did in all of 2008. I attribute this to: #1 Focus In 2008 I tried to do too many of things at once. It diluted my effectiveness in completing tasks, I barely completed tasks because I was doing too much at once and would not solely focus on one. As soon as I started focusing on particular activities, they would get completed. I think focusing on particular activities, with either goals, or timelines will help you complete them faster and more effectively. #2 Productivity Improvement & Organisation This is a HUGE thing that I’m going to constantly work on all year round. I spend a lot of time not only organizing my personal life and business, but also organizing my computers and using technology to increase productivity. This is a fantastic way of “gaining more hours in the day”. By doing things a little different, and using technology, you can greatly improve how fast you do things. Examples: Switching to a different web browser and using a cluster of different “add-ons” I was able to accomplish many tasks in seconds, which used to take me minutes. Time saved per day: 20 minutes or so Switching my web server host to a different host with different technology allowed me to consolidate and cleanup my emails. Instead of checking multiple websites and email programs, I now receive 8 different emails into my email program, which automatically sort themselves into folders depending on where they came from. Time saved per day: 15-20 minutes or so Sure this doesn’t sound like much, but by easily making these few changes, with a handful of others, I was was able to gain a substantial amount of time. Productivity is amazing. I found lots of great ideas on my new favorite websites (linked below). 2009 is going to be a great year, I wish you all success. Links: http://lifehacker.com http://mashable.com Jason Barone Real Success Dynamics realsuccessdynamics.com
Better Time Management
Time Management will be the key for me; so that means blocking time out in my diary to achieve everything I need to. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when I’m not organised, whereas if I have time set aside each day/week to meet my business and personal responsibilities, everything flows nicely and I find I’m a lot less stressed. Fiona Davidson Swift Online Secretarial www.s-o-s.net.au
Create a “STOP DOING” List
My ‘important’ tasks generally feel akin to climbing mountains to accomplish so its all too easy to take the line of least resistance and busy myself doing the urgent things – To keep myself out of temptation’s way I’m therefore making a ‘not to do’ list for my biggest time wasters – The first being: 1) Not to sit down to check my emails and run the risk that x hours later I’m still there Linda Fairbairn Journey Jottings journeyjottings.com Hi Suzi Mine is to make my list of everything that I need to do to take my business forward (this list will be added to constantly I am sure), then every day commit to crossing at least 3 things off that list to ensure momentum and achievement of my goals. Anne Bain www.experienceseekerstravelclub.com
Systems!
Hi Suzi This year, I have shifted my focus from the actual goals (they come easy (-: ), to a system that will ensure I focus my time and energy on the activities that will best align with my goals. I have started using today a simple version of the Zen to Done. This is a great system because it is simple and puts the focus on the “doing” (and doing the “right activities”). As a result, my two mantras for 2009 will be (1) Do it now! and (2) Everything has a home! I discussed ZTD in my first ever blog today. www.sustainablemarketingservices.com.au/blog Maria Anderson Sustainable Marketing Services www.sustainablemarketingservices.com.au
NEW GOALS WORKSHOP – 4 FEBRUARY
And secondly, I’d like to invite you to take part in the first business-webinar for 2009. Focusing on goals we’ll look at : • the value of setting goals • a couple of different methods of working with your goals so that they inspire you • and then the all important execution factor – once you’ve set the goal, how do you incorporate it into your life so you achieve it? Date: 4 February 2009 Time: 10.15am for 10.30am – 11.30am AEDST Venue: Webinar (from the comfort of your own home) Cost: ABN Members – Free, Non-Members – $49 Not a member? Learn about our January Membership offer here. You can learn more about this GOALS event at the Australian Businesswomen’s Network website – staging.abn.org.au.
