Making and keeping resolutions for your business in 2017 Email
Tuesday, January 10, 2017 03:00 AM

resolutions on stickynotesLooking to set some resolutions for your business in 2017? As a business owner, there’s always something more you could be doing to make your company thrive. Here are some ideas for 2017 goals that you can start today:

        • Delegate. If you love what you do and are passionate about business success, you might be tempted to be hands-on in every aspect of work. But one skill of successful business owners is hiring the right people for the right job. If you can achieve that, then you can delegate and trust your staff to get the job done right. Let your employees demonstrate their skills. It will give you time to work on the other resolutions on your list.
        • Listen. Instead of sending an email, meet with a colleague or client face-to-face, and let them do the talking. Make an effort to hear what others are saying, and you’ll get valuable feedback on how to improve your work. You’ll also strengthen relationships, which is the foundation of business success when you work in sales or service.
        • Learn. You don’t need to go back to college for another degree. But commit to adding one more skill to your portfolio or becoming knowledgeable on a new topic. Attend an ALCC education session, read a book recommended by a successful peer, or take an online class.
        • Rest. This might be one of the most difficult resolutions to keep. You can’t sustain a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week work schedule. Make sure to take time—even if you have to schedule it—to recharge. Whether it’s scheduling an hour each evening to spend on yourself or committing to a full day each month without email, phones, or work-related distractions, make it a goal to turn off your business brain and do what makes you happy.  

We’ve also got a couple of recommendations to help you achieve those resolutions:

  • Keep it simple. If your new year’s resolutions list is two pages long, you might be setting yourself up for failure. Set a few goals, and make sure some of them are short-term goals. Checking an item off the list can give you the encouragement to keep going.
  • Be realistic. Whittling your list down to three resolutions isn’t simple if those resolutions are unattainable. Instead of vowing to triple your profits this year, why not simply resolve to better understand your financials? Once you have a handle on your monthly statements, you can see where you can make positive changes that will affect your bottom line.

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ProGreen EXPO keynote presents "The Spark, the Flame and the Torch"
Know IRS changes for employees and employers
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