.So what is the difference between your business resolutions/goals to improve the results you are getting in your business and a decision to implement new strategies for improvement in your business?
Well I would like to believe not much. Both have a few things in common.
Firstly, the decision on its own won’t change any outcome or result. It’s all about the action you take, or don’t take.
It’s like saying that you want to lose weight in the year. But you don’t take any action to deliver the outcome that you want.
Secondly, unless you are very clear on the specific results that you want to achieve. Or really want for your business, will you be committed?
Will you be truly prepared to work at it no matter what it takes? Thirdly, why do you want this? Why do you really, really want this outcome?
For example, my wife and I planned to do a 5 day, 90 km walk in the Karoo Roggeveld. Yes, it wasn’t the most physically challenging event. However, we understood that we had to be reasonably fit to complete the distance and still enjoy the Enduro walk.
So having set our goal and made the bookings. Along with spending money, the goal it became a reality. We were going to do this, we had real skin in the game!
The date was set, we had to start taking action and do practice walks for improved fitness. Now remember the date we were going to start was set, it wasn’t going to change.
If we didn’t take action we fell behind our targets. No matter what the cause of this we knew we had to make up for it. Practice a little harder and walk a little further next time round! You see we held each other accountable….
You need to set your goals on achieving a certain amount of budgeted turnover or gross profit in Rand for the year. This is then translated to monthly goals, weekly budgets and daily targets.
Think about it in terms of the business outcome you have set out to achieve, included is your profit target. You have skin in the game as it is your business and you started it with the odds at an 80% failure in 5 years!
You should also get a clear understanding of who you need to be and what you need to achieve to get there. Getting clarity on the actions and how you need to grow is a key part in achieving your goals. Why you may ask?
The answer is in the detail and lets first understand that if you don’t change your habits around eating and exercising, you won’t reduce the calories that you take-in and you won’t burn off the excess calories that you have already consumed and your body is storing.
So in essence nothing is going to change! The same goes for your business. If you don’t change and take the correct the actions, the performance of your business won’t change.
The problem with your new year’s resolution is that you haven’t taken the time to set out an action plan in enough detail. With the right conviction and learning that will drive your new habits.
You need to set milestone goals for ensuring you achieve your end goal and keep your focus along the way.
Consider letting go of old business management habits. Learn some new ones that will help you grow your business and improve the results that you are achieving.
So by understanding the formula for success and its application in your business. It is important and implementing the learning element is a must.
How else would you ensure that your behaviours, actions and decisions are aligned to the business result outcomes you want? Do you need to work on your skills?
Do you have self-limiting beliefs and is your own identity a positive one? Are the values of yourself, the business and the team aligned?
Learning through coaching or mentoring, reading a book or attending a seminar will give you new insights and give you a better understanding of what will lead to your success.
My suggested reading for you is “The 4 Disciplines of Execution” by Chris McChesney and Sean Covey for achieving your wildly important goals. Its about focusing on these goals, acting on the leading KPI’s, keeping score and lastly accountability to deliver throughout your business organization.
I believe that ….
What to stop doing!
You need to know what you and your team must start doing!
And you need to understand what it is you should continue with!
Why don’t you invest in yourself and in your business and talk to us about attending a workshop, seminar or how to really grow your business and take it to the next level?
A business that delivers profits and that can work without you, consistently.
Yours in great business,
Coach Bert
Post Net Suite 128, Private Bag X 7,
Aston Manor, 1619
Mobile : +27 82 320 6072
Landline :+27 87 700 4149