10 Achievable New Year’s Resolutions to prosper in 2023
It’s the start of a brand new year and time to look to the future. 2023 will be tough, let’s make no bones about it. We may not want to make huge commitments right not and set ourselves up for a fall, BUT we can all still commit to doing our bit to keep the ship steady and even grow this year. At Expression we understand the pressures on every small business owner, so we have put together 10 simple resolutions that don’t cost anything other than a bit of thought / time to put in place. Keep to these this year and you and your team will come out the other side smiling.
1. Say thank you to your staff
It’s the small things that count, taking the time to thank your team for their hard work or good deeds, no matter how big or small will make them feel valued and want to do more. In tougher times it’s even more important that teams pull and work together.
2. Face any problems head on
No sticking your head in the sand in 2023. If you have an issue then take the time each week to tackle it head on. Dig into what is causing the issue and what is within your control to fix it. Get your team involved in this. Have a weekly problem-solving chat. Take your most pressing issue, discuss the root causes and invite suggestions to fix. A problem shared is a problem halved after all!
3. Eat well during your day
We know how busy the independent business owner is. Try and make sure you take at least 30 mins every lunch time to sit somewhere quiet and eat something healthy. Don’t snack badly on the go. The break is as important as the nutrition.
4. Try new things and fail fast
Don’t be afraid to try something new. Whether it be a new menu item you have been wanting to try, a different marketing tactic or expanding your product range. It’s much better to try something and then fail quickly than to never have tried at all. The most successful businesses are run by people who are able to make decisions fast.
5. Listen to others like you
Find the time to learn from others in your sector. Meet them at events, read their articles or listen to their podcasts. Its often stories and tips from people who have been or are currently in the same boat as you that provide the most use and comfort. See our recent list of great podcasts for independent business owners
6. Make a “good things” jar
It’s too easy sometimes to wallow in the things that haven’t gone so well. Take 5 every week to list the good things that happened that week. Save them up and read them every now and then when you might be struggling to find your motivation.
7. Keep on top of the bookkeeping
It’s not the most fun job in the world, which is why many busy business owners shove their receipts to the bottom of the pile. They mount up and then it becomes a headache to reconcile everything. If you don’t have one already, make this the year you start using an online banking app / account that allows you to easily scan your receipts as you spend.
8. Book your time off in advance
So many business owners don’t take the time they need to recharge because they leave it too late to book time off and there is always a reason then not to. Book a couple of weeks right at the beginning of the year. Set it in stone and give yourself plenty of time to arrange cover. You will thank yourself later.
9. Talk to your customers
Make this the year you really start to communicate with your customers. Ask them what you can do for them, what they would really appreciate both product & service wise. Ask for honest feedback. The more you understand your customers the more you can really create the experience they want when shopping with you. This is turn will drive loyalty and advocacy.
10. Keep an eye on the numbers
This year more than any the numbers count and its not just sales figures we are talking about. Have a good think about the 5 numbers that you can use to track how well the business is doing. How many customers have you had through the door? How many repeat table bookings are customers making. What is the average spend in store/restaurant? Create a weekly scorecard, set goals of what those numbers need to be to make enough money this year and track your progress against them weekly. That way you will always know how well the business is doing with no nasty surprises. Looking at them weekly means you can take action to correct any that aren’t where they need to be sooner rather than later.
There you have it. 10 achievable resolutions you can put in place to give your business the best possible chance to prosper this year. It’s even easier to action the above by giving yourself a simple set of questions to ask yourself once a week.
1.Who do I need to say thank you to?
2.What issue to I need to face this week?
3. What will I do for lunch this week?
4. What new idea will I try this week and what do I need to stop doing this week?
5. Who will I listen to this week?
6. What good things happened last week?
7. Am I on top of my receipts and if not when am I doing them this week?
8. What can I do to make sure I have planned for my holiday this year?
9. What will I ask a customer this week?
10. Have I completed my weekly scorecard?
Take 30 mins a week to run through these questions and you will soon see the positive impact.
Have a good year all. Don’t forget we are here to help save you time and money when your business insurance renewal is here. Another way Expression are here to help you protect the business you love.