It’s time to focus on moving forward. Debbie Palmer has some tips for making 2015 your best year yet.
HAVE YOU taken a moment to review how you’ve performed over the last 12 months? Did you achieve your goals? And if not, how can you do things a little differently this year?
Did you experience any setbacks? If the answer is ‘yes, I did’, you are not alone. Many of us often navigate through our personal life and career path with many challenges to overcome.
I believe if you can work towards having a positive mindset in every situation, while looking for the lessons and mapping out solutions to your challenges you will experience personal and business growth.
The process of going through life’s trials and tribulations isn’t always easy. I have definitely had my fair share of ups and downs. But when things get tough, you have to dig deep and be more determined to come out the other side a smarter person from the lessons you have learnt.
One of the reasons for writing this article is because I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of business owners, department managers and senior property managers who have opened up to me and shared their personal and financial struggles over the last 12 months.
When things are not going so well and you are faced with pressures it can sometimes be difficult to get into a positive frame of mind to enable you to turn things around quickly. But there is always a solution to every challenging situation; you just need to work towards it.
If you want to experience change you need to get smarter, be different and take action. Decide now to make it one of your New Year resolutions to dedicate at least a day away from the agency to gain a clear head so you can plan your business or career goals, objectives and strategies for the next 12 months. A favourite saying of mine is ‘Fail to plan, then plan to fail’.
STEPS AND AREAS TO CONSIDER
Assessing 2014
- How did you perform in 2014?
- Did you achieve your goals?
- What worked, what didn’t work and why?
- What lessons did you learn?
- What was your attitude and mindset like in 2014?
- Did you have the right team to support you moving forward?
- Did you have quality systems in place to streamline the day-to- day running of the business?
- Did you have a clear marketing and business growth plan in place?
- Did you attend adequate training?
- Did you make a profit?
- Did you have a financial management plan in place to monitor income and expenses?
Planning 2015
- What do you need to action or implement to improve your performance in 2015?
- What can you do differently in 2015?
- Can you improve your attitude and mindset?
- What new marketing and sales initiatives can you implement?
- Who will implement them?
- How can you reach more clients and customers?
- What new technology are you looking to embrace?
- What tools and resources do you need to improve your internal operations and profits?
- What are your short-term and long-term goals?
- What training are you planning to attend?
- What is your financial budget going to include?
I believe that now, more than ever, it’s time to:
- Get switched on with your branding, advertising and marketing.
- Ensure that you are having constant contact with your clients and customers.
- Be delivering exceptional customer and client service so you stand out from your competitors.
- Invest more into your team’s training and skill enhancement requirements so they are better equipped to perform at an elite level.
- Be present, active and involved within your business more than ever before.
Words of success for 2015
“Believe while others are doubting… Plan while others are playing… Study while others are sleeping… Decide while others are delaying… Prepare while others are daydreaming… Begin while others are procrastinating… Work while others are wishing… Save while others are wasting… Listen while others are talking… Smile while others are frowning… Commend while others are criticising… Persist while others are quitting.” (William Arthur Ward)
Wishing you every success.
