Take some time to mull over the following with a cuppa...
Did you cover all of your bills? Cotisations, equipment to run your business, advertising, CFE? Do you need to review your pricing? Don't price your business just to serve just your customers, price it to serve your business.
What were the strengths/weaknesses in your business last year? What were the opportunities/threats last year? How does that apply to 2018? What knowledge gaps do you have? What threats do you need to be aware of? What new opportunities can you look for? Just because you have worked in a set way for years, doesn't mean it's right for the year ahead.
“Old ways won't open new doors”
Is your customer base healthy? Did you lose or gain along the way? Will this be similar in 2018? What do you need to do to retain or find new customers? Did your advertising and promotion pay off? Where else could you be seen? Don't rely on old ways, get creative, talk to others.
Were suppliers up to scratch? Was your banking facility what you needed it to be? Are your insurances on par with what you need? Are prices going up in 2018?
Take a look at yourself? Did you work too hard? Not enough? Did you take sufficient time out for your own well being? Do you need to get that holiday scheduled out now? You are the number one asset in your business, be good to yourself.
"We've always done it this way" is a dangerous phrase
Looking back on the year is not just about looking for improvements for the year ahead, but also acknowledging what went well too. These have a great way of motivating us. What are your hopes and aspirations? Keep feeding them.
Change is a constant and keeping an eye on what you can control will serve you well so that you can adapt where necessary to the things you cannot control.
Wishing you all the best for 2018!
Keeping it socially simple!
Micala