With the end of the year upon us, it’s time to plan your business intentions for next year. As I’ve mentioned before, if you wait until January you’re already behind.
A personal rule of thumb I use is, “Have all tentative business plans done before Thanksgiving, or I’m a turkey.” It’s kind-of a catchy reminder I use to entertain myself — but it also sets a date to be on top next years’ intentions — to know where I’m headed. Then, December is the best time to firm up these plans (or goals).
Here are just a few of things you may want to plan for your business for next year. As usual, this list certainly isn’t exhaustive — but it may be a good jumping off point.
A vacation.
Last year, I learned that if I don’t put a vacation on the calendar it just won’t happen. At the time, I was working with a health coach who encouraged me to actually plan for vacation time in 2016.
I took her advice and I’m happy to report that it actually made a difference — it worked. Because I made the plan and put the plan on the calendar, I could see this scheduled time off — clearly. As a result, just the mere planning made it possible to also plan my finances, plan my work, and let my team know my plans, so they could make their plans, too.
I was able to take a 10-day trip to Mexico where I mostly unplugged, enjoyed the culture and had some adventures. When I got back I was refreshed, renewed, and ready to kick some serious butt.
That’s why, if you’re not in the habit of doing so yet, I recommend that one of the things you plan for your business (and yourself) in the next year — is a vacation.
A product launch of your own.
Another good thing to plan for your business? The launch of your own product or products.
Many of us start off as service providers, which is great, but eventually we need to scale. Additionally, making an actual plan of having multiple sources of income can help us during lean months throughout the next year — and actually throughout life.
And, finally, having passive streams of income can help us make money even when we’re not actively working.
It takes a lot of time to create and launch your own products, which is why I suggest maybe just focusing on just one product launch in the coming year. For me, I’m going to be focusing on my membership site that’s been a couple of years in the making.
More money.
Do you want to make more money? Then you’ll want to find other revenue sources or make raising your rates a part of your plans for next year. With a new year comes more experience. With more experience comes higher rates.
While it may be frightening to ask for more money, you owe it to yourself to at least try. Truth be told, the only way to get over the fear of anything — is to act in spite of that feeling. When I was a kid, on the fridge at home was a magnet that had a photo of John Wayne on a horse. It read, “Courage is being scared to death…and saddling up anyway.”
There are also other ways to make more money as a part of your plan for your business. You can take on corporate clients, launch your own products; you can expand your services or get commissions for recommending other products, etc. There are endless ways to put some extra cash in your pocket these days.
Asking for help.
If you’re still trying to do everything for yourself and by yourself, then bringing on help should be at the top of your plan for your business for next year.
I’ve been outsourcing for some time in several areas of my business — but I still need to consciously think about bringing on new team members in 2017 to help me out.
My virtual assistant and I will also be discussing ways that we can work better together.
Final Thoughts
Creating a plan for your business for next year can be fun and exciting. When you first start writing down your ideas — write every – single – silly, and even the potentially useless ideas that comes to your mind. You can cross off items on the list later. I have had one of the most “stupid, comical” ideas on my list, become one of my best ideas ever — down the road.
Then, use these four points as a guidepost as you plan to take your business somewhere new, somewhere fresh, and somewhere that will move you and your business forward to your better life and better income level.
