Here we go … It’s the start of another year. I hope you've had a good break and managed to switch off, recharge your batteries, catch-up with friends and family and you're now ready for the next twelve months.
As we get back to work at the start of a new year, I’ve been watching people out for their first walk, run and cycle of the year.
Part of all those great New Year resolutions and plans we make at this time of year.
I’ve been reading some of the articles that come out at this time of year. Why you should or shouldn’t have New Year resolutions. Why you should or shouldn’t set goals each year. Contradictory advice perhaps but it’s the underlying reasons that are important to the 'why'.
- Maybe you’re perfectly happy with where you are.
- Perhaps you set resolutions and goals each year but they fizzle out somewhere in February.
- You don’t set them because you know you’ll never stick to them.
Either way, NOW is the time to think about what you want for the coming year. If that’s something that’s important to you, your business and your life.
What do you want to achieve this year?
Reduce your hours?
Reduce time spent on your admin?
Increase your customer base?
Get really clear about your goals for each area or role. Not just the superficial, what you think you should do goals but the ones YOU really want.
- What's your motivation to achieve them (e.g. more time to do other things) and why are they important to you? This is where it helps to dig a little deeper than just your initial thoughts. Some may be more obvious than others but why do you really want that goal.
- Create an action plan that will help you achieve your goals. Break the goal into action steps and tasks that will help you to achieve your goal (e.g. bring in a Virtual PA to pick up the things you don’t like doing, automate some or all of your processes) will make it easier to see the route to take.
- What are the challenges that are likely to stop you from moving forward? Being aware of them means you can put a plan in place to tackle them as they come up.
- Take a few minutes, not just to plan what you want for the year but to think about what your life will be like in 12 months time and to commit pen to paper and write it down ... in your journal, your planner, your scheduler. Imagine it as though you've actually achieved it.
How will it look and feel? What will you be doing? Remember...
“A dream without a plan is just a wish”
Bringing in a Virtual PA to help you with your business admin will free up your time to do all those things you would prefer to be doing.
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