As 2015 comes to a close, I, like so many others, find myself reflecting over the events of the past year, and dreaming of ways to make 2016 even better. While I’m not one for resolutions, I do believe in making plans, and taking the final few days of the year to reevaluate goals, and create a list of all the things you hope the upcoming year will bring. So, I wanted to share five goals I think business owners should work towards in 2016, plus one personal lesson I learned in 2015, that I will continue to work on next year, that I think everyone could benefit from. You get a fresh start January 1st, a blank page to write a whole new chapter. Try adding these goals to your list!
#1 Become an Expert Risk Taker
In business, and in life, greatness rarely comes from playing it safe. Not only does taking risks mean more opportunity to grow, but it will give you a significant confidence boost! The more often you step out of your comfort zone, the less scary it becomes, and after a while, you’ll feel SO ready to take on any challenge life throws at you! Risks don’t always have to be big, things as little as changing your daily routine, signing up for a new class, or being honest with someone about how you feel. If you want to skydive, quit your day-job and start a new business, or move to a new country, make a plan, and make it happen!
#2 Contracts, Contracts, Contracts
I thought maybe if I said it more than once it would stick. Creating comprehensive contracts (and, ahem, USING them) is an absolute necessity for every single business owner, yet it’s something many skip over. Don’t do it! Not only do contracts cover your behind in worst case scenarios, but they can prevent problems before they even arise, and give your clients the vibe that you’re a serious business owner that is organized, straightforward, and honest. I subscribe to the better safe than sorry club, so be sure you’re being thorough and clear. My contract for my portrait photography business was 6 pages by the time I stopped shooting, because whenever I ran into an issue, I’d add something to my contract to try to prevent it from happening again. Once you’ve completed your contract, do yourself a solid and have an attorney look it over. It’s well worth it! Be sure you’re using your contract with every single person you work with, and if they don’t like it, let them go.
#3 Stop Apologizing
“I’m so sorry, but I cannot lower my prices.” No, just no. No more apologizing for doing what is right for you and your business! I’m so guilty of this one, and it’s something I want to work on in 2016. When you’re always apologizing for doing what works for you, you appear weak, and some people take that as a sign that they can manipulate you to change your tune. You shouldn’t be sorry that someone can’t afford to work with you, or that they are not willing to change their schedule so that it meshes with yours. When you have an appointment, and they don’t show up, don’t apologize when you remind them that your policy is that they’re a no show after 10 minutes and will lose that time (and any money paid). Stand your ground, and don’t apologize unless you did something wrong!
#4 Invest in Your Success
Take a course. Read a book. Team up with a mentor. Go on a retreat. Never stop learning, and be sure to invest time, and money, into yourself and your business. I don’t want to hear about how you can’t afford to, or you’re just too busy. You’re never too busy, or too broke, to invest in your success. Go to Barnes and Noble, spend $20 in a business book, and invest 20 minutes a day into reading it. When you stop learning, you stop moving forward, and the worst thing you can become is stagnant.
#5 Make Productivity Your Jam
Your goal should be to run your business as efficiently and strategically as humanly possible so that productivity becomes your middle name. The less time you spend on your business, the more money you’ll have in your bank account, and the more time you’ll have to focus on the things that bring you joy. Stop wasting time! Aim to find ways to stay organized and focused, all the time. Create a schedule, and stick to it. Don’t get sucked into watching funny cat videos on FB for an hour when you just meant to post a quick update to your business page. Look closely (and honestly) at how you spent your time in 2015: stop doing what didn’t work, automate what you can, and streamline what worked well.
Bonus: Only Have Expectations for Yourself
This is a doozy and one I think everybody and their mother should vow to work on. What I’ve gathered over the last few years is this: most of life’s frustration and disappointment comes when we place our expectations on others. We expect people to think, behave, and feel the way WE think they should. We expect our clients to respect and value us. We expect our partner to speak our love language, and for our friends to remember our birthdays. When those things don’t happen, we lose it, feeling let down, neglected, and personally attacked. Only, that isn’t fair! We need to understand that everyone has different feelings, different thoughts, and different wishes. Just because someone wants to go to a party downtown instead of coming to your cozy night in on New Years Eve, doesn’t mean they don’t care about you. It isn’t about YOU at all. It’s their choice, one they have every right in the world to make!
Instead of holding expectations in the forefront, work on tossing them to the side in 2016. Not only will you be happier, but those around you will likely notice your accepting attitude, and appreciate it! Understand that everyone can do what they want, and look at their actions as a whole when deciding if they’re someone you want in your life. If they’re constantly making you feel small, perhaps it means you don’t gel anymore, and it’s time for a breakup. Perhaps they just live a different life than you, so while they don’t always show up when you’d like them to, they go out of their way in other ways to show you they care. Those people are golden, so don’t make the mistake of forgetting the effort they make just because they don’t always do what you think they should, when you think they’re supposed to. Judge a person on their intent, their kindness, and their character, not on whether or not they always do what you think they should do, and learn to let go of people who do not show you the kind of love and respect you want for yourself.
What are your business goals for 2016? I’d love to hear about them! Having an amazing year starts with making a plan, so get to it, and don’t settle for anything less than success!
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