It’s almost time to wave goodbye to 2023 with all its ups and downs, lefts and rights, and failures and successes.
As a small business owner, this is prime time to begin reflecting on what worked and what didn’t this year and how you plan to improve and come back even better next year.
I’ve compiled a checklist for the small business owner who wants to enter 2024 feeling prepared, energized, and confident in themselves and their business.
1.Take this time to do some reflection.
It’s so easy to plan for the next without sitting back and really taking in what’s happening now. Use this final chapter of the year to reflect on what you’ve accomplished for your business, what lessons you learned (sometimes the hard way), and how you and your business have grown, even if only a little. Reflect on the past while planning for the future.
2. Set clear goals.
Now that you’ve reflected, you’ve likely identified areas for improvement, so now it’s time to plan. Use this time to set clear and actionable goals for what you want to accomplish in your business in this upcoming year. Write them out and follow them up with the steps you’ll need to take to achieve them. Having a clear game plan for what you want to get done will help guide you in the new year.
3. Invest in professional development.
One thing I recommend to anyone, and especially a small business owner is to be a life-long learner. Before the new year gets here, identify at least two to three courses, workshops, webinars, etc. that you believe will help you grow as a business owner (and bonus points for personal development). There is a wealth of knowledge out in the world, you just have to be willing to invest in yourself.
4. Identify tools and resources that will increase efficiency.
To grow and scale your business, your processes need to be efficient. Researching and identifying tools that automate invoicing, email marketing, project management, etc. will make a world of difference in your business. Investing in a social media manager, copywriter, or graphic designer to create marketing materials, build a social media strategy, and draft consistent and on brand content is a resource that can allow you to focus on higher level projects that will scale your business.
Planning for a successful Q1 can be stressful and sometimes overwhelming, but if you use these steps as a guide you’ll already be several steps ahead. If one of the goals on your list is to build or improve your social media strategy and presence, connect with me and let’s start your new year off right!