Where has the time gone? Or, how is it possible that we have reached the end of 2018 already? Now, it is time we look forward to the future of 2019 and reflect back on what went well — and what fell short of expectations — over the past 12 months.
Below, I will share some tips on how to make the most of the turning of the calendar:
- Celebrate! Earn your reward through your own reward system. You have to. If you don’t, you’ll burn out. So often we forget to take stock of the little wins along the way. Take a moment to find all the successes from the past year and celebrate them. Be sure to congratulate your team on those jobs well done too! While you’re at, you probably got there with the help of vendors, advisors and other colleagues – let them know that you appreciate them too. It’s 100% authentic. You really are that great and so are the people who support you. Gratitude is very important, and should never be underestimated in future success.
- Evaluate yourself. Whether you think your company uses the information or not, self-evaluations are a necessary device for professional development. Use it as an opportunity to distinguish yourself, leverage your accomplishments, and determine your shortcomings. It should appear more like an area where you want to learn more, do better and contribute at a higher level.
- Map out your marketing calendar. Most businesses will do a big push around holidays or major events such as the Super Bowl, President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Spring Break, Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day … Every business is different but you know which dates are most important to your business. The key is to create one that works for you and your team. Be flexible with it and don’t be afraid to customize it to your needs. Plan accordingly and well in advance so you are ready to launch when the time comes.
- Get ahead on the competition. When the competition gets tough, the tough tend to go at it head-on. No matter how similar we are to our competition, there is a place where we are different. And this is where we begin the game of LeapFrog. LeapFrog is where you jump over the competition and make the sale where no one else can play like client list, special connections, location, speed, tailored service… do the thinking! You will have to look. But, you do have them.
You have all year to accomplish your new goals. We look forward to serving you over this new year and beyond. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the comments section below.