Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Has any one thought of their New Year`s resolution yet?
Well, here is mine...
To take my business to the next level, polish up my business plan and start looking for investors. I think I sat on this for quite awhile and it needs to be addressed ASAP.

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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

Ed,

Something we practice in Vistage is doing our yearly Goal Sheets. I find this practice much better than individual "resolutions" - sort of pulls the whole picture together ... much as the Life Plan does that the Sloan Bros. speak of and promote.

This Goal Sheet is separated into 5 sections. Think of a 8½" x 11" paper separated into 4 equal sections with room at the bottom for a small paragraph.

Top left section: 2006 (past year) Significant Events. Here you recap whether you met the previous year`s goals. If just starting this practice, recap your significant events - could be personal, business, or both.

Top right section: 2007 (current year) Work Goals: This list the major accomplishments you will work on in the coming year.

Note ... when listing goals, always make them SMART Goals.

Specific - Measurable - Attainable - Realistic - Tangible

Bottom left section: Professional Development Goals. This is all about improving the "business" you. I will read one business book a month. I will attend 3 career development courses. Etc.  

Bottom right section: 2007 Personal Goals. These goals are all about you and your personal life. Might be to have one "hot date" with your wife a month. Or maintain a specific weight. Or walk 2 miles a day 5 times a week. List SMART Goals again.

The 5th section at the bottom is called: Personal Core Mission/Primary Aim. This is the end game as you see it. Example: Working from home - lake front home with office overlooking lake - running my online ecommerce business with revenues of $xxx per year ... you get the picture.

I believe this is better than a resolution. It puts all aspects of your life - business and personal - on paper where you can see it and be held accountable. Give the Goal Sheet to someone (or someones) who will hold you accountable. Review them and have these people review them with you at least once a month. No accountability is what causes most people to slip and slid on resolutions. It is nice to have someone prod you and hold you accountable.

Just an idea. If you`d like the Goal Template I speak of, shoot me a personal email to keycon@mindspring.com and I`ll send it right along.

Merry Christmas and I wish you a prosperous and focused New Year!

R@

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Richard Arnold · Key Concept Writers · Business Communication: The "Key" To Success· Law of Attraction Blog · Life Ain`t Brain Surgery Blog

I have to say...I don`t do New Years Resolutions...they are just an immediate step to failure or disappointment.

I use "intentions" instead of resolutions or even goals.  What happens if you do not achieve a goal in the time period that you allow for it, well you get bummed out.  With an intention, you have more flexibility.

I use an example like this - My goal is to burn 600 calories in this 30 minute workout, well when I don`t achieve this I am pretty hard on myself.  Now, when I word it like "my intention" is to burn 600 calories, if I do 599, I can reset the intention for tomorrow.  I am not beating myself up.

Just my 2 cents

Merry Christmas

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Stuart R. Crawford Business Development Representative IT Matters Inc. IT Matters is the Microsoft IMPACT Award Winner in 2006 for Small Business Specialist of the Year and CEA Silver Medal for Best Small Business Solution in Canada. 412,1000 8th Ave SW Calgary, AB T2P 3M7 Canada Phone: 403.710.4357 Fax: 403.206.7317 EMail: scrawford@itmatters.ca Web: http://www.itmatters.ca

I realize this thread is to publicly state some business goals for the upcoming New Year. I don`t have any business goals that start due to the New Year. My business has goals. They just aren`t dependent on the New Year.

With that said, I would like to state my New Years resolution, or goals to be...

1. live within my means
2. be curious and try new things
3. think, and do what I truly believe is correct

As for my most recent objective with ElusiveTreasures.com, Here`s what`s on the burner...

1. site wide, copy rewrite focusing on keywords and providing the imagery required to express the uniqueness and quality of our earthborn & handmade products.

2. resolve the distribution problems within my system to result in not only a faster shipping response, but also finding a way to offer incentives for free or reduced shipping rates.

3. increase efforts in publicizing Elusive Treasures` existence online, as well as, implement a marketing campaign directed to online surfers and shoppers.


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words