Changing the way things are done can bring opportunities for great success. Our natural reaction to thinking about change may be worry or fear.  That can result in a decrease in quality of work or a loss of production.  When it comes to work and business, it can be tempting to give in to those anxieties by doing what’s always been done. But priming the pump to have a better year always involves some form of adjustment to allow you access to new opportunities and better results.
How do you decide what changes are the most important ones to make?
Ask yourself these questions:

1. What obstacles or issues interfered with making the maximum personal and work progress that you wanted last year?  Make a list of these items as the first step in working toward a resolution plan.
2. Were last year’s goals reached? Why or why not?

• If so, take an opportunity to celebrate that as a huge accomplishment, but don’t stop there. Take time to evaluate reaching this milestone and list your three most successful strategies.  How did they help you accomplish your goals?  You can keep those in place if they are still relevant, but now you have to look to up your game.  Set more ambitious goals for this year so that your business will continue growing.
• If not, what were the obstacles that interfered with meeting the goals, and what changes will you make this year to reach those goals? Setting new goals without having evaluated the previous year’s goals and outcomes can result in a cycle of substandard planning for improvement. Don’t be afraid to abandon old strategies that didn’t work and try new ones.

3. What fiscally responsible goal can you add to this year’s list that will improve business and will also be fun for you? If you enjoy your work, your productivity will increase exponentially.

What do you need to change to have a better year?

• Choose passion over profit. By connecting to your bigger purpose in life, work, business, and the rewards will flow effortlessly. Passionate people attract success.
• Continue learning. Technology changes fast. Staying on top of what’s working now is only half the battle. Discovering new trends and leveraging that knowledge is the key to an exceptional year.
• Build a team.  We can’t all be experts at every aspect of our business. Hire the right people to do jobs you are not trained or qualified to do.  Your time is better spent on leading your business as the expert and in developing money making propositions. That is what you ARE qualified to do and why you got into the business.
• Celebrate success. Acknowledging and rewarding success keeps everyone motivated. Mark those mini-milestones with celebration and recognition!
• Add, don’t subtract. When repeat clients stop buying your products or services, something needs to change. Instead of cutting prices, add value instead – bundle existing services/products, add bonuses or create new offerings.