Set Up Your Business Right in 2019

You’ve survived the holidays, but don’t get too comfortable in your down season. With the holiday season behind us, now is the perfect time to take a moment and rethink priorities and goals. It’s time to work on your business rather than in your business.

Here are our top tips for refocusing your efforts and setting you and your business up for success in 2019.

Refocus your goals
Evaluate what you wanted to achieve in 2018 and look at the actual outcomes. Ask yourself these big questions: What were your business goals for 2018? Did you accomplish them? Did your business move forward in 2018?

Create new and measurable goals that your business can achieve in 2019. These goals could be to hire your first employee, increase your marketing efforts or join a coworking space. Whatever you decide should be unique to your business and your end game.

>> Ready to get moving on your goals? Reach out to us to get your personal action plan for 2019.

Make yourself accountable.
Just like getting a yearly medical checkup, it’s good to meet with a business counselor to make sure your business is heading in the direction you want it to. Business counselors are often long-time experts in the field and know about all of the resources you may not be aware of. They’re impartial to your business, so they can often make evaluations and recommendations about your business that friends and family may not see or think of.

But it’s not just about checking in. Making that meeting to plan, draft, articulate and set a path toward your goals is critical to actually reaching them. A procrastination study found that more than 70 percent of the participants who sent weekly updates to a friend reported successful goal achievement (completely accomplished their goal or were more than half way there), compared to 35 percent of those who kept their goals to themselves, without writing them down.

Intentions and accountability matter.

>> Need a business coach or counselor? Use The Resource Navigator to find business counselors all over the state of Missouri who would love to meet and help you (and they don’t cost a thing). 

Build your social network
When you’re starting or growing a business, your network is everything. Your professional business network will help you leverage yourself and your business—and it’s a potential source of customers, collaborators, mentors, possible team members, investors and friends. These people are your resources for business advice, new opportunities and crucial introductions.

>> Find a new networking events and groups in your area on the MOSourcelink calendar or on Meetup.

Always keep learning
Brush up on your skills and take a class or workshop. There are free and low-cost classes happening all over Missouri covering all topics from winning government contracts to funding your business to social media best practices. You know where to find them. Head over to the MOSourceLink Calendar.

Take time for yourself
As an entrepreneur, you make all of the decisions and wear many hats. You’re the CEO, human resources department and sales team. It can be easy to get bogged down. That’s why it’s important to take the time to relax and focus. Go for a quick walk outside. Have a coffee or one-on-one with a friend. Attend 1 Million Cups to meet like-minded people who may also be in your same shoes. Change your environment and work at a coworking space for the day.

Get your personal action plan

If you want to refocus on your business in 2019, but aren’t sure where to start, send us some info here and we will be in touch with a personal action plan powered by our 500+ Resource Partner network of organizations ready to help you move your business forward at little to no-cost.