{"id":118,"date":"2023-01-05T15:40:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-05T22:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.connect4commerce.ca\/resources\/res"},"modified":"2023-01-05T15:38:21","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T22:38:21","slug":"small-business-goals-new-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.connect4commerce.ca\/resources\/business-news\/small-business-goals-new-years\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make (and Keep) Your New Year’s Resolutions for Your Life and Business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tips for Small Business Owners on Setting and Keeping Personal and Business Goals that are Compatible<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Bruce Tannas<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did your business do as well as you hoped in 2022? Whether it did or didn’t work out the way we hoped or wanted isn\u2019t an excuse to not reflect, adjust, and plan for the New Year. After all, Benjamin Franklin once said that \u2018failing to plan was like planning to fail.\u2019 So take the opportunity early in the New Year to take stock and look forward to 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janelle Stewart<\/a>, a life coach from Hinton, Alberta, says that the key to setting and keeping goals is to \u201cstart by taking stock, then plan goals for going forward, and build your goals into habits to help you keep them as the year progresses.\u201d
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Taking Stock:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some business owners remember to look at their business goals and operations plan but neglect to look at their personal goals. Remember you are not your business. You need to reflect on both your business and personal life and also consider where there is tension between them. Janelle recommends that you start by reflecting on \u201cwhat worked and what didn\u2019t\u201d in your life and business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She recommends \u201cthat you start by breaking down the all the aspects in your life including work, family, friends, vacation, recreation, etc. and take stock in each.\u201d She suggests that you \u201crate your satisfaction level from 1 to 10 in each area as that will help to identify the areas that need attention.\u201d Janelle also adds that a key business tip is that you \u201cdefine who you are in the business.\u201d For example, as a business owner you might want to see your business grow. But what does that mean for your life? If your life goals are to spend more time with family you\u2019ll need to mesh the two somehow or re-evaluate your priorities going forward. So it\u2019s important that you keep both your personal and business goals in mind as you develop goals in your life and your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resolutions (aka setting goals):<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve reflected on where you have been it\u2019s time to think about where you want to be \u2013 which means setting personal and business goals. Look at each aspect of your life and business and make some relevant goals. To make the process easier and more effective Janelle says you should \u201cstart on the areas that will make the most difference.\u201d For example; a goal to start an exercise program could give you more energy to get your work done more efficiently so you can be home sooner to participate in family life. Sometimes small things can be very impactful so consider what might make the most difference and start there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping Resolutions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Janelle also believes that \u201cpriorities and goals that align with your values are most likely to be kept.\u201d So the first step to keeping goals is to ensure that they truly align with our values. The next important step is \u201cto make goals into habits\u201d according to Janelle. She says that \u201cif you can transform a goal into a daily habit\u201d then you are more likely to succeed in reaching it. For example, if you want more customers then you can break it down into how many more potential customers you need to contact every day. Similarly, if you wanted to exercise more you could break that down into how many steps a day you needed to take. The key is to identify small consistent habits that will lead to achieving the larger goal and then scheduling it consistently into your routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final tip that Janelle provides, to help keep your resolutions, is to have an accountability partner. In business that might mean joining a mastermind group or having a business coach. For personal goals it might mean having a person such as a friend, relative, or someone you trust help you out or engaging a life coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the end of the year and the beginning of the New Year is often a good time to reflect, adjust, and plan it isn\u2019t the only time. The important thing is to be strategic and intentional in your life and your business so anytime that it makes sense for you to reflect and take stock is a good time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Connect4Commerce offers entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country a convenient and comprehensive place to connect, exchange goods and services, and advance their businesses. Be sure to check out further articles in our\u00a0Small Business News blog<\/a>\u00a0for additional resources. Also, find\u00a0business services and professionals<\/a>\u00a0on our site that can help you grow your business.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n