29 Dec Five ways to re-invigorate your business in 2020
For business owners, the festive season is often a time of reflection. But it can also be a great time to explore new tactics and opportunities. So if you’re taking some time out of your busy schedule over Christmas and New Year, here are some really positive things you can do to reignite your passion and set your business on the right course for 2020.
- Read a motivational business book
There are books designed to help us master all areas of business, from Marketing to Leadership skills. If there is an area of your business that you feel you lack knowledge in, do some research and check out some reviews to find a good book on the topic.
One of the most helpful marketing books we’ve read in a long while has to be bestseller This is Marketing by American author and entrepreneur, Seth Godin. Over the last thirty years, Godin has become a renowned speaker on effective marketing and leadership. Described as “a game-changing approach to marketing, sales, and advertising”, the book gives you tips on how to build trust among your core audience and explains why traditional approaches to advertising and branding are no longer effective. It will help you view your business in a different light and have the confidence to apply new techniques to marketing yourself and your product/service.
You may remember in a recent blogpost, we discussed how social psychologist Amy Cuddy explains how body language can shape who you are and how you’re perceived by others. Our second recommended read, Presence, shows you how you can build your confidence during critical moments such as business presentations or new client meetings. In this book, Cuddy teaches you how to “approach stress-filled challenges without fear and leave them without regret”.
- Celebrate your successes
Business planning shouldn’t just focus on the things you’ve yet to do. First, jot down all of all the things you’ve achieved to date, to remind yourself just how far you’ve already come. This is a great way of motivating yourself to focus on next steps, and will make you feel much more positive when it comes to writing a fresh to-do list.
- A problem shared
Running a business single-handedly can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it all alone. Find a mentor or supporter that you can approach for guidance, encouragement and support – when and where you need it most. One of my best friends runs a local retail business, and we often sharing ideas and knowledge over a drink, as well as spurring each other on to be brave and take the next challenge. It’s like having my own personal business coach, but even more rewarding as it’s a mutual benefit.
- Create a business plan
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to be more structured and more organised as a business, then you really need to create a business plan. I know this is one we mention frequently – see our recent post ‘A goal without a plan is just a wish’ – but it really can help you prepare for the year(s) ahead. Writing down your business goals and the things you need to do to achieve them makes them feel more attainable. It’s also far easier to accomplish one step at a time, than it is to contemplate your overall business goal holistically.
- Take a break
No one works well if work is all they do. Take a step back from the business and do something completely different for a bit. The holidays are the perfect opportunity to shut off completely, have a rest and come back to everything with fresh eyes and more energy to take on challenges. So go on, take some time out for YOU this holiday – after all you deserve it!
