Resolutions

This is a great time of the year not only to evaluate our personal lives but also to establish our business resolutions for the New Year.  The old adage, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time” is just as true in business as it is in our personal lives.  So, here is a reminder in how to develop S.M.A.R.T. resolutions for your business. 

S – Specific:  Resolving to make more money is too vague.  Think about what percentage you want to see your bottom line increase this year.  How many employees do you want to be able to hire because your business is expanding?  How many new clients do you want to gain this year?

M – Measurable:  Resolutions should be quantifiable in some capacity.  You have to be able to measure a goal in order to know if you have achieved it.  Make your resolutions statistically measurable.

A – Accountable:  Share your resolutions with your key staff members who will own them as well and review them in staff meetings to keep each other accountable to accomplish them.  If you don’t have a staff, enlist a close friend, find a mentor or hire a life coach to provide you the needed accountability to accomplish your resolutions.

R – Realistic:  Keeping your resolutions firmly based on reality enables you to set your aim at a reasonable level.  Doing so, helps provide encouragement and prevent discouragement.  To hit a bulls eye target, you have to aim in the middle.  Setting your sights too high or too low both result in missing the mark.  Keep you resolutions real!

T – Time frame:  Set a date to achieve your resolutions.  This helps keep you motivated and focused on achieving your goals at an effective pace.  If you don’t set a date, it is likely that you will either take too long to accomplish the goal or not get it done at all. 

Now, go set your business resolutions for 2012, and make it a great year!