Did you flip the calendar and mutter, “Where did January go?” You created your business strategy with the best of intentions. So, how is it that January’s gone, along with those good intentions?
After a year like 2020, you deserve to cut yourself some slack.
Business Strategy Shock Value
Believe it or not, there is something good about being shocked into reality.
- It proves you’re still alive (instead of the numbness many of us walked through in 2020)
- You stand up and pay attention (figuratively, if not literally)
- The wake-up call urges you to regroup (and the good news is there is plenty of time)
Now that the calendar has your attention, why not use the shock value?
Make today your business goals time. Hop on the train for this year’s strategy.
Full Steam Ahead
If you got out of the gates running, good for you.
- You set your goals early
- And followed your plan to a tee.
- You are human, right? Sorry, that’s envy speaking.
Instead of starting from scratch, use the end of the first month for a simple review. Use the following 3 simple questions.
It is probably way too early to throw in the towel on something that did not work.
Tweak your activities and commence full-steaming again.
Derailed Business Strategy
Did you start out with a full head of steam, only to derail along the way? You can use the same simple review – what went well – what needs improvement – what’s next?
- Did you underestimate the time needed for tasks?
- Were there unexpected obstacles?
- Are obstacles temporary, one-and-done? Or do you need to adjust your timeline or strategy?
A quick review will help you find your answers.
Get back on track and moving.
Never Left the Station
I suspect more than a few of us have our goals still sitting in a spreadsheet (or our brain). You may have an excellent excuse – or not – but, it doesn’t matter.
You can start now. Let’s get that business strategy chugging along.
How? Yep, you guessed it – the simple business review.
What went well?
- Look at the current year’s first month plus the prior year (I know. Who wants to revisit 2020?)
- If this is your 1st year in business (congratulations!), review what has gone right so far.
- Then use the SMART technique for developing goals – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound.
What needs improvement?
Think about what is keeping you from creating your goals?
- Do you need structure? Find a process that works for you.
- Are you feeling overwhelmed? Regroup and take baby steps.
- Simplify your goals – for my first year in business, my simple monthly goal was doing better than the month before.
What’s next?
- Take one goal and work on that – Set tasks to achieve that goal
- Add another goal (or two) the next month
- Repeat and start again
Use a simple review to get your engine started.
Come and Gone
January has come and gone. We cannot get it back until next year. So, we might as well make the best of it and move on.
Do a simple business review.
- Tweak business strategy
- Get back on track
- Move forward
What tips do you have for creating effective business strategy?
Note: This February 1, 2021 post updates one that originally published on January 30, 2013.
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Man, nothing is a greater reminder of resolutions forgotten than staring at the calendar at the end of January. 🙂 It’s why I stopped making resolutions and make monthly plans instead.
I love all your suggestions, Cathy. If you regroup, you can make February a dynamite month. I like to set monthly earnings goals and account for them on my blog — makes it more real for me and keeps me on track.
I’m with you, Lori. I need bite-sized plans and resolutions. 🙂 Your accountability on your blog pulls me along with you – sometimes kicking and screaming. 😉
Thanks for stopping by, Lori.
This has been one of those months where I am constantly doing things without feeling really productive. However, I’m in the middle of a big reassessment exercise and am making small changes as I go without a resolution in sight. 🙂
Okay, this twin thing is getting spooky, Sharon. 🙂 I am going through the same type of month, which was part of the inspiration for the post. The good thing about assessing monthly is you regularly have new beginnings. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your month with us, Sharon.
I think we should just go with the twin thing, Cathy – works for me! 🙂
Agree 🙂
Exactly why I recommend (some may say demand) the development of and POSTING of KPI. To know what needs to be done. To be held accountable.
I agree, Roy, Key Performance Indicators are a great measurement, and accountability works.
I belong to a writers’ forum – About Writing Squared – where we started posting weekly accountability tasks. It has made a huge difference on my productivity and focus.
Thanks for sharing another great tip, Roy.
Cathy, I also use SMART goals and I review them frequently, usually every morning before I begin work.
It’s also important to forgive ourselves when we don’t accomplish as much as we thought we would.
Great point about forgiveness, John. Without it, you only get stuck from moving on.
I often envy your focus, John, but then I don’t want to get stuck in my shortcomings. 😉 Thanks for stopping by.
Cathy, I always get so much from your blogs. I, too, just realized that January is gone and it petrified me. Thanks for showing me how to look at my progress in a simple fashion.
You are so nice, Ann. I’m sorry I’ve been MIA in the blogging tribe. Between the norovirus in our household and other crazy happenings, January flew by. Thus, the inspiration for the post. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Ann.
Biggest tip i have is to constantly review my return on TIME.
Time is the most valuable resource that we posses.
The goal is to constantly swap out ineffective activities for THE MOST effective activities.
Ya know like connecting with my favorite blogs.
2013 motto
“NEVER EVER EVER EVER, ever let a day go by without completing the most important tasks for your business. “
And a great tip it is, Darnell. I like that motto-simple, just like I like it. 😉
Good to see you back here, Darnell!
Where did January go? A whole month gone, and life continues, business continues and no great plans to concur the world have taken shape. Guess what? February is shaping up the same.
I guess that’s one way to look at it, David. 😉