If you read the news – it’s not good. Most countries are either in or heading into recession. Falling oil and commodity prices have destabilizing effects on energy dependent economies – Venezuela is one example. Geopolitical turmoil and radical terrorism create fear and uncertainty. At the same time, you are supposed to have a vision for growth and even dare to make 2016 your best year. As a business owner, you may feel at times like you are heading into a Tsunami in a rowboat and there are crocodiles on the shore.
Most of my clients are coming off of a great year and some are posting their best year ever! That can be a mixed blessing and double edged sword. The temptation to coast and repeat or feeling like you’ve reached a lid and need to contain, can set you back or worse, lose most if not all the ground you have gained.
Two things are taking place within your business. You are either growing your business or going out of business. External circumstances, good and bad, always exist. Markets always peak and valley. Personally, over the last 25 or more years, I have either started new sales positions or business ventures/expansions during or right after: a 7.1 earthquake, 2 Gulf Wars, 9-11, the Recession of 2008. Some may say I have bad luck or timing. It is simply the time we live in. The issue is not what the market or economy is doing, rather what you are doing in the market. As you plan for 2016, it is imperative you take a balanced approach. In my last blog “Self Examination- The Key to Planning a Great 2016,” I discussed the importance of reviewing your year and rating your key business disciplines to determine your improvement areas. When you have completed your
Year End Review , you now should do a SWOT analysis:
S-Strengths– What can you leverage at a higher level to get better results.
W-Weaknesses – What can you improve- do better to get better results.
O-Opportunities – What opportunities can you tap into to get better results
T-Threats –What threats exist that could dramatically impact your business if you are not prepared.
Most of us would rather not confront the brutal facts that could take us down. In fact most of the threats are internal more so than external; although external threats can and do affect us all. Successful business –sales people take threats seriously and deal with them head on. When your SWOT analysis is complete, you can start your business planning. Here are 7 Key Steps to making 2016 your best year ever:
1- Write down your vision or vivid description of where you see yourself/ business ending in 2016. Include specific benchmark numbers and initiatives/changes you made to realize your goal.
2- Have a clear and concise Core Values/Core Purpose statement which you can share with your Clients/ Prospects and team members.
3- Include a 3-5 year vision statement so you can see how this year builds on future success.
4- Have a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal- that takes extraordinary effort to achieve.
5- Make sure you have specific goals: Annual –Monthly –Weekly- Daily.
6- Have someone to report and measure your results to.
7- Believe you can achieve your goal.
Most people fail to set and achieve large goals because they don’t think they can achieve it and don’t know what steps to take. Going from generalities to specifics and then reporting and measuring your results is the key to performance acceleration. If you want help crafting your business plan that will make 2016 your best year, Contact Us today and schedule a Complimentary 30 minute session with one of Our Coaches.
