The Year of... [Enter Theme Here] and make it happen!

Here’s to amplified success in the New Year!!!

Like so many of you, I can get so busy with my workload that I have often become accustom to treading water rather than gaining ground. It is so easy to do – isn’t it? So how exactly do I plan on gaining said ground and growing professionally this year? Simple – I will let go. There, I said it. It has been declared. I have so many incredibly capable and talented individuals working with me on our diverse team. I will delegate to them and focus on what I SHOULD be doing, which is growing the business.

I know for a fact that many of you out there are in the same boat. You have plans to increase your sales, acquire new clients, promote your services, create new services/products, and take things to the next level of productivity and profitability. Even if you are among the very few fortunate small business owners that have all the business they every dreamed of, you still have goals like volunteering, running a marathon, or signing up for that pottery class you’ve been eyeing for 4 years.

For me, this has been a build-up. Two years ago was the year I expanded my team (greatly). Last year was the year that I invested in my business with the lease of a new office space (that I love). Now, I’m ready for the next phase, and I can’t wait!

Everyone has their “thing”. That one part of their job that they do and hate it. So why waste any more time on it? Let someone else set up and execute your email campaign while you attend that conference in Florida and charm a dozen new clients, poolside. Admit it – that is what you really should be and WANT to be doing anyway.

So why are you not and what can you do to make sure that this year is different? Here are 4 ideas to get both of us there:

Delegate More!

Not just for tasks you dislike but also for tasks that someone else can do better than you. Yes, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you hate repetition and are not good with detail, you should not be doing your own bookkeeping. Love to give a seminar and lecture but hate to write your notes after? Have someone else transcribe or take notes so that you can move on to brainstorming your next session.

“Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere as long as the policy you’ve decided upon is being carried out.”
– Ronald Reagan

Embrace Automation in the New Year

Even simple things like setting up and automated scheduling tool, automatic replies when you get an email, installing filters for your inbox, and writing and preprograming your social media posts will make a difference. Lots of little things will add up to diminish unnecessary, time-consuming, repetitive tasks.

Oh man do I love to automate and create systems! but I also understand the anxiety and hesitation that some entrepreneurs have over this area. Trust me when I say that you can do it and this is an area that it’s helpful to have some professional advice.

Use your Calendar

Seriously. Use it daily and stick to it. We don’t mean the one with cute puppies on your corkboard. Amiad Soto advocates how modern technology can save the day for busy entrepreneurs. “Digital calendars such as a Google Calendar or BusyCal are a painless way to guide your days. Most digital calendars can do everything from coordinating meetings with associates to pointing out when there’s no more time to spare.”

And if you really want to splurge on an analog version, check out the Daily Greatness Journal.

Invest in the Right Promotion

You need to get out there. Whatever form of marketing you choose (and we have plenty of ideas to give you), you need to do something to stimulate growth. Because what you are missing, your competitors are taking advantage of, and missed opportunities rarely boomerang back.