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nd just like that, January is almost over! It’s been a busy start to the year over at EF&G headquarters as we get stuck in with a new marketing client project and welcome some lovely new coaching clients. How have you been finding things this month in your business? If you’ve been feeling a tad overwhelmed, know that you’re not alone.
After the full-on seasonal period, pushing sales and promotion for Christmas and Black Friday and frankly just getting ready for 2022, January can feel a little… empty. Especially as we enter into the year, we’re bombarded with messaging and immense pressure to hit the ground running. It’s safe to say, it’s not exactly a time of comfort for us small business owners.
However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Stay tuned for a list of curated top tips on the key to achieving true business success in 2022 and how to get yourself back on track post-January blues.
Don’t go overboard with too many targets. It’s great to have a roadmap but stick to a handful of major business development goals for the next 12 months. If you’re feeling unsure of what these goals may be, it might be time for a little reflection on your business purpose.
12 weeks is the perfect length of time for achieving your targets, without stretching yourself too thin. Every quarter, aim to have no more than three to five big goals. Otherwise, you’ll end up feeling overwhelmed alongside your day-to-day business operations, which can result in burnout – no thanks!
This month, it can be tempting to dive into your business headfirst with that “new year, new me” energy. However, this isn’t necessarily the best time of year to be working at full steam, especially for those of us living in the northern hemisphere. Ease yourself into a routine. Your mind and body will thank you for it later.
Before you get sucked into the fast-paced entrepreneur life where days, weeks and months can all blur into one, ensure you plan your time off for the year. An important point: you shouldn’t wait for a certain business milestone to justify time away! You need it now and you need it regularly.
If you struggle to stick to a routine, why not put your working hours into your email signature? This will also let your clients know when you’re having downtime and help manage their expectations.
If you know me, you’ll know I’ll hammer this point home until I’m blue in the face; it’s really so important. You cannot build a sustainable and thriving long-term business if you’re continuously putting yourself at the bottom of the priority list. Whether it’s regular breaks or daily moments away from your desk, just for yourself, make a commitment that 2022 will be different.
Every month and business quarter, you should be reviewing your key success metrics. Revenue, profits, targets, expenses – the numbers matter. Pay particularly close attention to the success of your campaigns, marketing efforts, specific sales initiatives and customer feedback. That last one is particularly crucial.
Some of the most lucrative contracts in my business have come from things as simple as a mutual LinkedIn contact. Set up coffee dates, go to business networking meetings – whether that’s virtually or in person. Make some new business besties and you’ll be amazed at the impact that it can have on future business opportunities. Think collaborations and referrals – that’s gold dust for small business owners!
One of the main reasons I launched the Blossom Membership Space for small business owners was to facilitate a deep connection with like-minded and soulful individuals. Make 2022 the year that you form alliances and perhaps even forge some new friendships. There’s no need to go through life and business alone.
The support I found in the early stages of my business journey were crucial to the success I experienced. With the right guidance and accountability, you can discover your true authentic self and become more aligned and content in your business.
You need to know where you are in your business financially, at all times! Your books should be up to date and you should also be aware of how you’re doing in terms of targets. How much money are you actually making? Can you streamline your expenses? This should be a top priority for every single business owner. And don’t forget to set aside some funds for growing your business too.
Not only will “future you” applaud you for this act, but also your customers and employees. If you’re showing that you’re 100% dedicated to your business. That positive energy will also reflect on your customers and workers too.
By evolving your products or services, you’re showing just how much you value them, their desires and needs. A happy customer equals a higher chance of them staying a loyal customer or client to your business.
I often find when working 1:1 with clients, that they set very modest business targets. Whilst I’m a firm believer that true business growth takes time to come to fruition, don’t be afraid of being bolder with your small business goals this year.
What if you are able to exceed those tentative goals? What if you can generate a bit more revenue than you originally projected? Have some faith in yourself this year. You’re meant to achieve truly amazing things!
Last year – my second year of business for EF&G – I set myself the target of increasing my gross revenue by almost three times and I’m delighted to say that I hit that goal in the final week of December. I was overjoyed to see my hard work pay off and by setting goals like this, you too can see what you are capable of. Don’t undersell yourself!
It’s important to remember, even if you do apply every breadcrumb of advice from this article, or any other experts, success for your business won’t happen overnight. You’ll need to gradually ease yourself into things, and most importantly, give yourself permission to put yourself before your business. I promise you, once you do this, only good things can come from it.
If you feel a bit uncertain about where your business is heading this year or perhaps don’t know what success really looks like for your business, feel free to reach out to me via Instagram for a chat at @ebbflowandgrow. My DMs are always open to those in need of support. Alternatively, you can send me an email at hello@ebbflowandgrow.com.
If you want to find out more about ways to work with me, check out my services here or send me an email at hello@ebbflowandgrow.com
To stay up to date on all the latest blogs and Ebb, Flow & Grow updates, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter below and follow me on Instagram at @ebbflowandgrow. You can check out my other blog posts by clicking here. Until then!
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