Getting the 2014 Business Ball Rolling Before New Years Day
Business Advice for Women Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
If you are like most small businesses you might be experiencing a lull in activity, a quietness in sales efforts, minimal communication with customers during this week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. It’s normal. It’s American. It’s part of being an entrepreneur. The last week of the year typically produces less commerce than other times of the year unless you prepare taxes, run a retail store accepting holiday return items or host New Year’s Eve bashes. I’ve learned after 19 years in business, it’s perfectly okay to embrace a quiet business cycle.
By definition a business cycle is the upward and downward movements of levels of gross domestic product and refers to the period of expansion and contraction in the level of economic activities around long-term growth trends. If you have been an entrepreneur for awhile, you should be aware of the upward and downward movements in sales of your business over the year. This week might be one of those down sales periods. The question then becomes, “What should I be doing right now to prepare myself for business when the period comes to an end and the New Year’s Eve ball drops in Times Square?”
Here is a list of tasks to perform if you are looking to prepare your business for 2014:
1. Just like Good Morning America did this morning, review 2013 highlights and low points to capture the essence of the year. Write down what your company performed really well, how you succeeded beyond expectations and then try to replicate those high points in 2014. Then look at what didn’t work well in 2013. Take note. Take responsibility. Then make a plan to do those tasks better in the New Year.
2. Pull out your 2013 business plan and update it. Goals change. Revenue streams ebbed and flowed. New marketing opportunities presented themselves, Competitors entered the marketplace. Pricing changed. These are just a few of the elements that affected your overall plan. Do some research if you must and then make adjustments for 2014 so you are better prepared to succeed.
3. Create a list of strategic partners, organizations and individuals and align yourself with them this January. During the height of a busy season, it’s hard to find time to reach out and strike up new, beneficial relationships. The perfect time to set up new alliances is before the year gets underway. Look at your business cards. Review business organizations you belong to. Make a list of people to meet and set up appointments before January 15th to discuss how you can work together.
By getting the ball rolling before the New Year’s Eve ball drops is the best way to add motion and movement to your company as a new business year begins.
Women TIES 
Reblogged this on marysfairytaleweddings.
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