New Year Strategy: How To Plan, Not Plod, Your Way Into 2017

Got big plans to start 2017 with a bang?

A new year is a perfect time to clear the slate, or build on past successes. However, business coach Greg Betty says there’s just one problem: many businesses fail to plan how they’ll actually execute their goals.

“Not many people jump in their car and not know where they’re going, but most people jump into business, put their foot on the accelerator and don’t necessarily know where they’re going,” says Betty, of Action Coach Sydney.

But start planning now and you can hit your straps right from the start – potentially getting a massive jump on your competitors. A proper plan, broken down into small steps, can be “a game-changer”, says Betty.

Here’s how.

1. Start with the end in mind

When it comes to business, many people get fixated on what they should be doing this week, or this month, says Betty.  “You really should be focused on what’s my ideal life 10 years from now.”

Your goal might be to exit your business and start another, grow to a certain size or achieve financial freedom.

From there you can backtrack: where will you need to be in three years and one year in order to achieve your long-term goal?

“Once you’re at one year, you’re clear on what are the key goals, then 90 days, then this week. Then, what’s the one thing I need to do today?” says Betty.

2. Seek outside inspiration

If you’re planning for success, you’ll want to do it somewhere that inspires you.

Many of Betty’s clients head to a five-star hotel – perhaps just to the restaurant – which he says encourages them to think big.

3. Start planning before you head off

Betty says writing a draft before you down tools will allow the plan to circulate in the back of your mind during the break, bringing further clarity.

It will also help you to start on the front foot from day one of the new year, rather than flailing about aimlessly.

4. Pinpoint the tasks you hate

Dr Lara Corr, the work and life coach behind Set Me Free Coaching, suggests writing down all the tasks involved in running your business – and separating them into two columns. One of the columns will contain each task you dread.

“Ask yourself why you’re avoiding it,” says Corr. “Is it because it’s boring, because you’re afraid of dealing with it because it’s scary – like finances can often be scary – or just because it’s not your thing?”

Once you’re clear on what you dislike, decide whether you can drop it, delegate it (perhaps to an outside person) or train up one of your staff.

Corr says this can improve a small business owner’s energy, focus and ability to complete tasks. “You’re not carrying around the stress of all this stuff you’re supposed to be doing but you’re avoiding.”

5. Back yourself

It can be easy to set your dreams too small, or get down on yourself if 2016 wasn’t all you’d hoped it would be, says Corr.

She suggests taking a closer look at what you’re telling yourself. For instance, does one bad year mean you’re not going to succeed long-term?

“The more useful approach is to see things as information,” says Corr.

So if 2016 didn’t meet expectations, use that information, and what you’ve learnt, to make changes in your business.

6. Break it down

Julia Bickerstaff, founder of The Business Bakery, suggests breaking the year into three chunks of 100 days, with a specific goal for each.

Think about what you want to achieve by the end of 2017, and divide it up by three.

“Thirty day things are really too small because there’s not enough time for things that are going to take a little bit longer to mature,” explains Bickerstaff. “If you’ve got employees, it [the 100 day goal] is good for them too.”

In-between, there’s about three weeks to reflect on what worked and to think, “OK, what do I still want to achieve’?” says Bickerstaff.

7. Be clear on your goals

Increasing revenue is often the top priority for very small businesses, says Bickerstaff.

“If you’re really small, I would probably do revenue three times running.”

Bigger businesses are more likely to choose three different goals for the year, says Bickerstaff. “For larger small businesses, pick something like revenue, profitability and people.”

8. Where’s the money coming from?

Make a concrete plan as to where the cash is going to appear from.

For example, a third could come from online, a third from returning customers, and a third from a new product or service.

9.  Don’t break the chain

Bickerstaff suggests “a really simple psychological trick”. For each day you achieve your goal, simply put a red cross through the calendar.

“The longer you keep that chain going, the more you’re going to want to carry on.”

10. Plan to make an actual change

If you don’t make a detailed plan then it’s likely nothing will change, warns Bickerstaff.

“You end up on the 31st of December the same you were on the 1st of January – a bit disappointed.

“Often you think something’s not right with my business, but actually you haven’t done anything to change anything.”

Source: New year strategy: how to plan, not plod, your way into 2017