The beauty of the clean slate appeals to us all in one way or another, but in addition to the commonly mentioned health and fitness resolutions, it might be time to take a look at your professional path in a similar manner. It may not require any drastic changes, as most of our diets do, but we can all benefit from introducing different rituals and habits that can fuel business as well as personal growth.
Whether this year has been extremely successful and profitable, or you’ve had your fair share of ups and downs, the New Year is to some a do-over, while to others, a chance to soar even higher. Entrepreneurs and business owners have already come up with quite a number of impressive resolutions you can implement to make 2019 your best business year thus far.
Learn to say no
Saying yes is something every business owner can get behind. The notion of leaping through freshly opened doors and gladly taking new opportunities is what most of us perceive as the ideal way to move forward. However, have you noticed that you might be hindered by some of the things that you do choose to accept? Too heavy of a burden on your shoulders formed by numerous minuscule responsibilities can still be your stumbling block to success.
If you’re a solopreneur, outsourcing a portion of your tasks can help you manage better and focus on the most relevant tasks that need your attention. Working with freelancers has become the new norm for any industry, whether you need a website designed or some content written. If you have an in-house team, on the other hand, master the art of delegating!
Embrace innovation
The entire world is galloping into a more tech-savvy future, and a brand without that digital, competitive edge cannot expect to survive, let alone thrive. If you work in a creative industry such as fashion, implementing equally creative tech ideas to help your business grow is the way to go. For example, using fashion POS software solutions means you can enable an omni-channel strategy paired with spotless customer experience – a must for any fashion brand out there.
Don’t shy away from innovation in any form that can help you scale your business more successfully in 2019. Adding chatbots to your website can help you improve customer experience as well and solve issues without any delay.
Share your wisdom
Even if you’ve been in this business for a while, you can still remember the rocky beginnings and the failures that come with it. There are many aspiring visionaries out there who could use your words of caution, experience, and wisdom on their journey to success. Set up free workshops and teaching seminars occasionally in 2019 to help future business owners meander through their own murky waters.
In the spirit of sharing and learning, maintain your thirst for knowledge and continue your education and skill-improvement through a range of learning experiences. Attending conferences and seminars is not reserved for networking only, but also for picking up new information and complementing your existing skill-base.
Strive for balance
So much innovation and ambition tend to go hand-in-hand with personal chaos. These resolutions may be related to business, but for your professional self to thrive, you need your personal fulfillment as well. Too many wonderful leaders end up dealing with burnout, lack of creativity and no true satisfaction on a regular basis as a result of enabling their work to take over their entire existence.
Use your fresh start to restructure your schedule to make more room for those true life priorities. Time spent with your loved ones, time invested in self-care and moments of silence all add color to your life palette, making your professional efforts all the more meaningful.
Make a difference
Finally, what good is any business, brand awareness or profit if we don’t use it to help those around us who need it the most? Whether you choose to donate your money, time, gifts, or all of those combined, the world will indeed be a better place not when you kick-start your business, but when you use it to make a difference.
Look up to companies such as Bombas who have turned a simple necessity into little actions that deliver tremendous results. Find your own way in 2019 to act in accordance with your beliefs, and you will indeed have the best year so far.
It doesn’t take extraordinary efforts, investments or time to bring improvement to your current business model. All it takes is a bit of imagination paired with patience (for yourself as much as others), and 2019 may truly turn out to be the best-filled clean slate in your professional record.