Happy New YEAR... In October?

https://donellafields.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Planner-Calendar-Journal.png
Happy New YEAR... In October?

Happy New YEAR... In October?

It"s October again and the weather has taken an abrupt turn reminding us of our downward spiral into the blustery wintery season rapidly approaching. A not so subtle reminder the year is approaching its end and a new one is around the corner. A forceful reminder to look at our business goals and whether or not we are even remotely close to achieving them for the year.

As we all do, early in my business, I spent many years forming rather bad habits but this one, I believe to have been one of the worst. Generally the last week of the year, I would race out and purchase one of the picked over planners left on the shelves by the non-procrastinators so I could prepare my schedule for the following year. I would place it on my desk in the office where it would usually reside until January 1st anxiously awaiting to be noticed. It is then, I would sit down and ever so neatly log all of the regular networking meetings I planned on attending, family birthdays and routines, I had established over the years, colour coded of course! It took a few days to complete and then I"d pat myself on the back for doing such a splendid job and take a week or two reprieve to wrap my head around the busy year I was about to embark on.

February would arrive and I"d dig in with my heels on and go full force embracing all I have planned for myself and my business. My income increased and the appointments were at an all time high. When March rolled around I"d find myself high on life and really rather impressed with how well the year was going and rationalize how a much needed holiday was in order and take a step back for a week, maybe two. April arrived and the weather cheered up. I would think to myself, why isn"t my business where I thought it would be for this time of year? After all I have had a smashing beginning to the year....right?

Okay! Let"s get real! How many of you have read that and thought Mmm, that sounds a bit like me? Your business will never grow if you don"t work your business and put together a plan of action and remain consistent in your business and routines!

Last week my planner arrived... YES in October for NEXT YEAR! I am forced with making decisions early as to how I plan on spending 2019. It is time to evaluate this year and decide on which activities have worked, failed and could have been done differently so I can improve, and not make the same mistakes next year. You can believe I will not make the same mistakes and I will be filling my planner with SUCCESSFUL duties this upcoming year.

So as Business Owners what should we be focusing on? The obvious choices are your goals. What goals are you setting for you and your business? Remember to include ALL goals such as, Faith, Family, Health, Work/Career, Money and Financial goals. We must work on ourselves as much as we work on our businesses. As you set up your goals don"t make the fatal mistake a lot of Business Owners/Entrepreneurs make and that is not reviewing them on a regular basis. At the end of each month review the previous month. Did you meet or exceed your goals? Did you fall short? Why or why not? How can you change or maintain these results in the upcoming month?

Quarterly check ups are also vital in your business. They are a great way to keep yourself on track during the year and not trying to play catch up at the end of the year. Remember "Your values are the soul of your leadership, and they drive your agenda", John C Maxwell. As you track your progress each quarter determine if you are 25% closer to your goals than the prior month. This will keep you on track for the end of the year. This allows you to evaluate and adjust your behaviour and routines to get you back on track to reach your goals.

This takes consistency on your part but as with many habits we form the more you do this, the more diligent you are, the easier it will become. Hold on to your "Why?", the reason you started your own business, and allow that to drive you and push you toward your goals. You"ll be pleased you did in the end! It"s time to to plan big things for next year. Write them down, grab your planner, and get going! Remember the old adage, "the early bird gets the worm"? Are you the bird, or the worm? Be the bird!

Updates Delivered!

Donella shares some amazing information by email - you don"t want to miss a single issue! Sign up today!

Please leave this field empty.

donellafields.com@gmail.com
540-207-5290

https://donellafields.com/?p=2833