Resolution (3)

As we welcome the New Year, it is important to take some time to revisit your business progress and make plans on how you want it to grow.  Now is a perfect time to reflect on the successes and failures of your professional and personal life this past year.  Have you considered what changes you want to implement for the coming year?  Here are 7 top resolutions to jump start your New Year!  

 

Resolution 1:  Get Out of Debt
Easy to say, difficult to do!  According to some experts, Americans charge over one trillion dollars per year using Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.  For many, money is a big source of stress; and it doesn’t help that we’ve had to deal with economic issues over the past few years. This coming year, make it a priority to resolve your money woes. 

 

One of the benefits of joining National Association Women on the Rise (NAWR) is to take advantage of our Women, Money and Power series. Led by Tamara Haskins, CEO and Founder of Haskins Wealth Management Group, Inc., says, “We are educators who believe in providing our members with the information and resources that empower them to make smart financial decisions.”  Haskins, with over 20 years of experience in accounting and financial planning, will, will help members of NAWR take control of their own financial destiny!  She will provide monthly webinars and oversee the member’s forum.

 

Resolution 2:  Give back

Have you ever considered the impact you would make on the lives of others by sharing your time and talent?  Volunteering or mentoring is such a non-selfish way to give back!  There are many ways you can reach out; find a non-profit organizations in your area that you feel compelled to work with and volunteer; help your local library or hospital; or mentor youths or adults. 

 

Over the past few years, I’ve had many women reach out to me about mentoring. As much as I would like to help everyone, it is not possible.  So, in 2011, NAWR will launch its mentoring program, “One-Mentor-One” a program that will match successful women entrepreneurs and executives with mentees.  

 

Resolution 3:  Understand your finances

This is extremely important for the health of your business.  As a new or growing business, you need to be diligent about your finances.  The NUMBER ONE reason that businesses fail is due to lack of control over finances. 

 

Some experts suggest reviewing your profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flow reports on a monthly basis.  To manage this, there is accounting software such as QuickBooks specifically for small businesses.  Also, hiring a CPA or bookkeeper can be a wise investment.  

 

Resolution 4:  Learn how to delegate

As your business grows, so should your ‘tight grip’ on controlling every aspect of your business.  The worst thing that you can do is become a slave to your business.  This attitude can cripple you!  I know this first hand; as a former owner of a building maintenance company; I was president, HR generalist, payroll specialist, trainer, janitor, sales woman and more!  It took me a while to realize that not only could I not effectively wear every hat, but in order to grow and regain my sanity, I had to trust others.  It is important that you delegate non-core business tasks to your staff or consider outsourcing.  Play on the strengths of others. The lack of delegation will stifle your growth, or worse, cause you to run your business and yourself into a pit fall. 

 

Resolution 5:  Make more time with family & friends
One of the reasons we go into business is the idea of being flexible with our time.  So, the idea of having time for family and friends seems like it should be a no-brainer, right?  According to recent polls conducted by General Nutrition Centers, Quicken, and others shows that more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year. 

 

You have control over your time, so make sure that you balance work and life to be able to spend it with those that are important to you.  

 

Revolution 6:  Network religiously
One of the most successful ways to promote your business is through networking.  You are in business to grow, so make networking a key part of your marketing strategy so that you position yourself to connect with the right people.  

 

Networking is a lifestyle in which you need to incorporate onto your “To Do” list. By networking, you are developing your social skills by engaging or interacting in an informal gathering to communicate with others for mutual assistance or support. By acquainting yourself with other business owners or executives, you are building meaningful relationships. There are many organizations that you can become involved in such as the Chamber of Commerce, Business Network International (BNI) or a professional organization related to your industry.

 

NAWR recognizes the importance of creating a platform for women to network.  We’ve built a great virtual community for women to network, collaborate and build lasting relationships. 

 

Katrina Harrell, President of KM Harrell Group, LLC, says, “Since discovering NAWR, I've been increasingly impressed with the quality of content, caliber of women entrepreneurs and professionals and the commitment to excellence Sylvia and NAWR have consistently presented. I personally am a part of several wonderful online women business networks, but often find myself coming to NAWR when I'm in need of a little "push" and some thought provoking insight from seasoned entrepreneurs. I have met many wonderful women entrepreneurs on this network that further challenge me and inspire me to reach higher.” 

 

In addition, NAWR was recently selected by Black Enterprise as, “10 Ning Networks You Need to Know,”   http://tinyurl.com/39tmbq7  

 

 

Revolution 7:  Get organized 

It is essential that you start your day with a ‘to do’ list.  It doesn’t matter if your business is small or if you run a large corporation, having a daily plan will keep you on track in effectively running it.  Start your day by scheduling uninterrupted time to plan and create your list of tasks for that day, and rank your list in order of priority.  For example, if you have 10 tasks on your list, of those, how many do you need to complete?  Can you save the least important tasks for another time? 

 

Please note: If you don't accomplish all the tasks from your ‘to do’ list, it doesn't mean you are having problems managing your time.  It simply means that you only have limited time per day to get everything done and you may be trying to accomplish more tasks than you have time in the day. 

 

To manage and prioritize my time, I rely on Microsoft Outlook’s calendar and task manager to plan my personal and business schedule.  I then sync Microsoft Outlook to my Black Berry PDA.  This helps me to stay on task and set priorities for my daily activities.  Find what works for you and make it a daily habit to have a productive and organized day!    

 

Last but not least…

 

If it’s not working, drop it quickly

 

Don’t waste your time or invest any unnecessary energy nursing something that isn’t working for your business.  Time = Money and in our current economic crisis, both are a very precious commodity that a small business can’t afford to gamble with.  Move on and don’t look back!

By incorporating these simple yet effective strategies into your plan, you can position your business for significant growth.  Here’s looking at a great 2011! 

 

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it Sylvia Browder is CEO of Browder Consulting Group, a virtual small business consulting firm.  In her role, she helps Women in Business grow and succeed.  She is Founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. The association’s mission is to provide professional and personal resources while uplifting and empowering women entrepreneurs through collaboration, education, mentoring, spiritual and peer support, leadership and networking. She is ‘employed as Project Director and business consultant for the Women's Business Center, Inc, a non-profit economic development organization with a mission of empowering women to start and grow successful businesses.  She has served as an online volunteer SCORE counselor since 2004.  She also serves as a Technical Assistant Provider for SBA’s Community Express Loan Program.  For FREE weekly articles go to Sylvia Browder’s Blog for Women Entrepreneurs, www.sylviabrowder.com.  She can be contacted at info@browderconsultinggroup.com.   

 

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New Year...New Strategy

Out with the old, in with the new is a term you often hear as we leave one year and enter the next. If only it was that easy. The truth is, it takes more than a clock striking twelve, a kiss with a love one or few fireworks to change a current challenging circumstance.Whether you are looking to change a business practice or personal situation, it is going to take a lot of work and much planning accomplish that dream or goal. Is your problem lack of focus? Motivation? Commitment? What are you going to do differently in 2010?I heard a powerful statement from a family member. He said, "Choose to make adjustments in your personal, mental and spiritual disciplines." You have to make a conscious decision to change. Yes, there may have been outside factors in your life that caused you to get off track. BUT you can either continue to waste time dwelling on what was or wasn't or you can make a CHOICE to let it go and move forward.It is up to you. Are you ready to pursue that dream of owning a home? Is starting your own business on the list? What steps do you need to take to make those dreams a reality?Here are a few tips to get you started.Write the VisionThere is a saying in the bible that says without a vision the people perish (Proverbs). Dreams keep you alive. If you have nothing to look forward to, you will just be. I encourage you to get a journal (or dust off the one you already have) and outline what you want to do. Be very specific. If you want to change careers, write what that career will be. If you want to increase your income, write down how much you want it to be.The key to this is that you write what ever it is with authority. Use words like I am going to, or I will make, etc. Writing the vision serves a few purposes. It allows you to see what is in your mind and becomes more real. You can also share it with one or two people that you trust, so they can hold you accountable. But be very selective in choosing who that person will be. Not everyone will believe in your vision.Research, Research, ResearchOne mistake many eager entrepreneurs make is that they do not conduct enough research in the project, career or business they are trying to get into. If you are looking to quit your corporate job and become a home based business, you need to establish a transition plan that includes having a start up budget. What will your home-based business be? What is going to be your niche? Who is doing what you would like to do already and could they be a mentor to you in some way? These are just a few things to consider, but no matter what you are trying to do, be prepared to put in many hours of research. As you establish a foundation, you will see the benefits of this preparation in the long run.Connect with Like-Minded PeopleIt is very very important to surround yourself with people who are looking to succeed and working in their passion. You need to be around people that are positive and excited about their gifts and talents. Friends and family can be great, but they can also be dream destroyers.Join groups that cater to the type of work or idea you are looking to do. If you enjoy event planning, go on Facebook, Linkedin, Yahoo Groups or some other sites that may host groups dedicated to that field. You will gain a tremendous amount of insight as you look to venture out on your own. Ask questions and don't be afraid to join into discussions. You may connect with a future colleague or client!Knowledge is PowerAs you move through the above steps and begin to get a solid idea on what you are doing and where you would like to go with it, keep your knowledge and skills up to date. Sign up for some training course, subscribe to online ezines or blogs that cater to your topic of interest. If paying for a course is not in your present budget-no worries, the internet has a host of free information for you to help keep you in the loop! For example, using a tool like Google Blog Search will give you the most current information for whatever it is you need to know.Following these simple steps are a sure way to help put you on the track of success in this new year.Natasha RubinVirtual Assistant/Social Media Marketing ProfessioanlOwner of Gifted Assistant Management Serviceshttp://www.thegiftedasssistant.netFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/giftedassistantLinkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/natasharubinFollow me:http://www.twitter.com/giftedassistant
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Hi All!I wear a LOT of hats, but one is service as a dispute resolution profession(mediation, arbitration, facilitation).I'd like to know whether my new friends would find it useful to have me re-post stuff from my blogs as they go up. In particular, I'm a pretty outspoken proponent of arbitration,--have been since 1991.I'd be happy to answer any questions folks have about ADR processes, so let me know if you have a question.Also, I can post resources and help people figure out how to resolve disputes without going to court,--or, how to think about settlement, if you're already in court.I'm developping nearly 120 domains right now, so time is tight, BUT this is something I'm passionate about, so BBWO might be a good place to use my ADR energy.What do you think? leave a comment and I'll read it and take your thoughts on board!!Regina
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