Santa is making his list, gifts are piling up under the tree, tiny lights brighten the streets each night, and the smell of gingerbread cookies wafts through the air. There’s no doubt about it. The Christmas season is fast approaching, and with it, feelings and memories of love, joy, and family.

Our holidays look a little different this year, and there might not be as many parties, gatherings, or chairs placed around the table at the big meal.

But one element that hasn’t changed a bit this year is anything but merry: S-T-R-E-S-S.

With less than a month left in 2020, you may be among the many entrepreneurs who are feeling the squeeze of the holidays, the end of the business year, and quality time with loved ones. There’s a lot to fit in, and time is of the essence.

For some entrepreneurs, it’s the feeling of panic that they haven’t achieved their goals this year. They want to finish the year strong by bringing in new business, but if they don’t have a solid strategy, they may end up throwing in the towel and giving up, hoping that they’ll somehow turn things around next year.

Other business owners struggle to find a balance between professional responsibilities and quality time with their nearest and dearest. Depending on the type of business, this might be your busiest season. Trying to wrap up the end of the year can feel like a treadmill you can’t climb off. And there is often nothing more disappointing than working hard and not enjoying the payoff of being able to enjoy time with your loved ones during the holiday season.

Still other entrepreneurs wish that they could buy impressive gifts for every client without having to consider the price tag. But if your business isn’t as profitable as you wish it were, the holiday season can be demoralizing and even stressful.

Here’s the good news: It’s not too late to enjoy December without feeling the squeeze. More importantly, it’s certainly not too late to set the stage for 2020 so you can take the new year on with focus and drive.

Right now is the time – today, this minute even – to put together a plan to get what you want out of the holidays and your business.

Do you want to make sure you don’t feel the same panic about your 2021 revenue that you feel now? The time to take thoughtful action is today. Put serious time these next few weeks into creating a strategy for 2021 with actions steps and measurable goals.

Do you want to spend Christmas and New Year’s enjoying time with your family? If the answer is yes, then you’ll need to buckle down this week and next to accomplish your professional responsibilities.

Do you want to be able to splurge on special gifts for your clients, children, or spouse? Challenge yourself to make these next few weeks really count and bring in the additional income needed to cover those expenses.

At the end of the year, it’s easy to get swept up into the holiday madness and lose sight of what you want from your business. Here are 3 important things to reflect on in order to enjoy your holiday — and finish the year strong.

Your 2020 Wins

One of the reasons entrepreneurs feel deflated and down in December is because they focus on their goals that they didn’t conquer. But, if you sit down and reflect, I’ll bet you’ll see that you achieved more than you think, whether the successes and milestones were large or small. Celebrate and be grateful for the successes you had this year. Let them energize you to dream bigger, plan smarter, and accomplish more in the year to come.

Did you push yourself to try something new? That’s a win. Did you relinquish control and delegate a task to a team member? That’s a win. Did you build a relationship with a new client? That’s a win. You owe it to yourself to celebrate these wins. Let them empower you to set new goals for 2021, laying a foundation for a strategy that allows you to thrive.

Your Values

The end of the year is a fitting time to reflect on what really matters. For many entrepreneurs, answers like family, freedom, and spiritual beliefs top the list. Although they are passionate about their work, they strive to build a Legacy Business so they can create a life that allows them to spend time with their loved ones.

While it’s critical that you set professional goals for 2021 and take action steps to achieve them, it’s equally important that you spend quality time over the holidays with your loved ones. You work hard all year to be able to provide for your loved ones, but the best gift you’ll ever give them is your time, love, and undivided attention. Work doubly hard these next few weeks and when the holidays roll around, turn off your phone for a few days to recharge and unwind.

Your Lingering To Do List

If you want to start January off on the right foot, make sure you wrap up any projects that you’ve pushed off again and again. You don’t want any large projects hanging over your head or distracting you when you should be focused on what you need to do daily, weekly, and monthly to achieve your goals and boost profitability. If you need to eliminate any inefficiencies that have prevented you from being productive, seize the day. If you need to hire a team member to help you wrap up a project, do so. It will be well worth your while and you’ll be able to ring in the New Year fresh and focused.

As a Master Sales and Business Strategist, speaker, and consultant, I know how challenging it can be to put a plan in action and actually execute it. This is an area of entrepreneurship that many find difficult, so don’t feel bad if you need support and tools to make it happen.

Instead, contact me to find out how we can create a plan that will allow you to build your legacy business, finish 2020 with peace of mind, and start 2021 off as the year when you finally Double Plus your income.

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Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus^TM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through barriers preventing them from the success they know they are capable of. Contact me today to find your future clients who just don’t know what they’re missing.