Ten Resolutions for Year One of the New Millennium
| Category: Top 10 Tips | Date: 2002-05-21 |
As you launch into this very special new year, consider these resolutions. Taking action on any of these could transform your enterprise and your life.
Resolve to Get Wired
Businesses of all shapes and sizes are flocking to the Internet, the fastest-growing communications medium in history. Use of the Internet and the World Wide Web can be a cost-effective addition to your arsenal of competitive weapons. Dont wait. Resolve to get your enterprise in some form of ecommerce this year. Companies worldwide are finding out you can reduce marketing costs, increase revenues and improve service using the Internet.
The world is moving fast. Plug into it today.
Resolve to Expand Your Comfort Zone
Each of us has our own personal comfort zone. Some would call it "a rut". Staying in your comfort zone can be very limiting. The world passes us by as we stagnate. If we are not learning, trying new things and growing, our jobs and businesses may be deteriorating. Make a list of 50 things that, if you really were successful in doing them, you would be a better person or a better company.
Examples: give a speech (oh no!), write and publish an article, start an exercise program, meditate daily, teach a class, feed a homeless person, volunteer, climb a mountain, learn to play a new musical instrument, sign up for a dance class, try for that promotion and so on.
Then, from your list, choose one or two that you are willing to do within the next 90 days. Schedule those one or two new activities, then go for it. Afterward, choose one or two more and do it again.
Make personal and professional growth a lifelong habit.
Resolve to Get Better Clients
Most businesses take on any client who steps up with the money. Consider the cost to you for dealing with the people you serve. Have you ever noticed that some people make you feel good just to be around them? These are the people who give you energy when they are near you. On the other hand, there are probably others you can think of who drain all the life out of you. Which clients would you rather have? You can surround yourself with people who are pleasant, easy to deal with, interesting and, oh yes, profitable. Get better clients. You deserve it.
Resolve to Get Organized
Too much going on? . . . Not enough time?. . . . Sound familiar?
How would you like to have more time for what YOU want to do?
Resolve this year to plan your days, reduce interruptions, clean off your desk, say "No", make lists. The benefits of getting more organized include being more effective at your work, having more positive control of your work style, saving time and money, improving your professional image with clients, bosses, etc. and taking control of the stress.
Resolve to Be a Rainmaker
Ive seen many people who sat around waiting for rain. They would wait by the phone, hoping a prospective client would call or come to the business. Others, including some of the most successful, took positive action to "make it rain". These are the ones who made calls, ran ads, got out of the office to make their own contacts.
Through their activity, these business professionals created opportunities for new business. More clients, more revenue, better client relationships and happier employees are just a few of the advantages youll realize when you take business-building action for your enterprise.
Resolve to Clean Up Loose Ends
We all have messes in our lives. Messes are incomplete tasks, disorder, disarray, or conflicts that distract you and cause you to lose energy, break your concentration and reduce self-esteem.
Messes can include cluttered desks, relationships gone awry, physical well-being, finances, incomplete agreements and legal issues. Every time you eliminate a loose end, you boost your confidence, increase concentration and feel a surge in energy.
For the year 2000, target a mess a month.
Resolve to Focus on Your Strengths
Conventional wisdom says we should work on improving our weaknesses. What a terrible waste of time, talent and opportunity! Highly successful entrepreneurs, as well as top scientists, artists, athletes and entertainers throughout history have achieved great- ness by focusing on their areas of strength. Everybody has a natural aptitude in some areas. No matter how hard you try, it is unlikely you will ever be more than average in areas where you do not have an aptitude.
Working on your weaknesses undermines your self-esteem since youll focus mostly on your deficiencies. Developing your natural talents is rewarding and motivating, allowing you to continually realize higher levels of ability, achievement and success. This year, experience the immense satisfaction that comes with being superb at something.
Resolve to Take More Free Time
Free time isnt a reward for working hard; its necessary for optimum performance and productivity. We need free time, away from the business, to rejuvenate ourselves. When youre aggressive about getting rest and relaxation, regularly and frequently, youll see increased creativity and productivity. The more free time you take, the more creativity and productivity youll experience. To make breakthroughs in income, productivity and creativity, significantly increase the amount of free time away from your business.
Resolve to Develop Stronger Business Relationships
Your economic future is dependent on other peoples future. Your success in your enterprise is based on the extent that you help other people to succeed in their lives. Ask every person you encounter what he or she wants to have accomplished three years from now. Focus on finding ways to help others in achieving their goals. By adding value to their preferred future, you not only deepen your relationship; you also create huge opportunities for yourself.
Resolve to Get in Better Shape
Take a hike. Or a jog, swim, or bike ride. With few exceptions, those who are consistently successful have lots of energy. They have the stamina and the energy to be creative, tirelessly serve their clients, put in the extra effort when necessary and go the extra mile for their employees.
The bottom line is that regular, strenuous exercise is good for business, because its good for you. You can increase your well-being, jump-start your days, boost your confidence, turbo-charge your creativity and knock down stress by exercising consistently.
And thats not all. Think of exercise as a gift to yourself and to your loved ones. A gift of longer life, more energy, happier disposition, increased creativity and reduced pain.
Start by exercising your free will. Commit to any of these ten resolutions and make this a great 2001!
About the author:
Gary Lockwood is Your Business Coach. Increasing the effectiveness and enhancing the lives of CEOs, business owners and professionals. Get the Free BizSuccess newsletter at bizsuccess.com or send any blank email to subscribe@BizSuccess.com
Gary@BizSuccess.com
http://www.BizSuccess.com
Resolve to Get Wired
Businesses of all shapes and sizes are flocking to the Internet, the fastest-growing communications medium in history. Use of the Internet and the World Wide Web can be a cost-effective addition to your arsenal of competitive weapons. Dont wait. Resolve to get your enterprise in some form of ecommerce this year. Companies worldwide are finding out you can reduce marketing costs, increase revenues and improve service using the Internet.
The world is moving fast. Plug into it today.
Resolve to Expand Your Comfort Zone
Each of us has our own personal comfort zone. Some would call it "a rut". Staying in your comfort zone can be very limiting. The world passes us by as we stagnate. If we are not learning, trying new things and growing, our jobs and businesses may be deteriorating. Make a list of 50 things that, if you really were successful in doing them, you would be a better person or a better company.
Examples: give a speech (oh no!), write and publish an article, start an exercise program, meditate daily, teach a class, feed a homeless person, volunteer, climb a mountain, learn to play a new musical instrument, sign up for a dance class, try for that promotion and so on.
Then, from your list, choose one or two that you are willing to do within the next 90 days. Schedule those one or two new activities, then go for it. Afterward, choose one or two more and do it again.
Make personal and professional growth a lifelong habit.
Resolve to Get Better Clients
Most businesses take on any client who steps up with the money. Consider the cost to you for dealing with the people you serve. Have you ever noticed that some people make you feel good just to be around them? These are the people who give you energy when they are near you. On the other hand, there are probably others you can think of who drain all the life out of you. Which clients would you rather have? You can surround yourself with people who are pleasant, easy to deal with, interesting and, oh yes, profitable. Get better clients. You deserve it.
Resolve to Get Organized
Too much going on? . . . Not enough time?. . . . Sound familiar?
How would you like to have more time for what YOU want to do?
Resolve this year to plan your days, reduce interruptions, clean off your desk, say "No", make lists. The benefits of getting more organized include being more effective at your work, having more positive control of your work style, saving time and money, improving your professional image with clients, bosses, etc. and taking control of the stress.
Resolve to Be a Rainmaker
Ive seen many people who sat around waiting for rain. They would wait by the phone, hoping a prospective client would call or come to the business. Others, including some of the most successful, took positive action to "make it rain". These are the ones who made calls, ran ads, got out of the office to make their own contacts.
Through their activity, these business professionals created opportunities for new business. More clients, more revenue, better client relationships and happier employees are just a few of the advantages youll realize when you take business-building action for your enterprise.
Resolve to Clean Up Loose Ends
We all have messes in our lives. Messes are incomplete tasks, disorder, disarray, or conflicts that distract you and cause you to lose energy, break your concentration and reduce self-esteem.
Messes can include cluttered desks, relationships gone awry, physical well-being, finances, incomplete agreements and legal issues. Every time you eliminate a loose end, you boost your confidence, increase concentration and feel a surge in energy.
For the year 2000, target a mess a month.
Resolve to Focus on Your Strengths
Conventional wisdom says we should work on improving our weaknesses. What a terrible waste of time, talent and opportunity! Highly successful entrepreneurs, as well as top scientists, artists, athletes and entertainers throughout history have achieved great- ness by focusing on their areas of strength. Everybody has a natural aptitude in some areas. No matter how hard you try, it is unlikely you will ever be more than average in areas where you do not have an aptitude.
Working on your weaknesses undermines your self-esteem since youll focus mostly on your deficiencies. Developing your natural talents is rewarding and motivating, allowing you to continually realize higher levels of ability, achievement and success. This year, experience the immense satisfaction that comes with being superb at something.
Resolve to Take More Free Time
Free time isnt a reward for working hard; its necessary for optimum performance and productivity. We need free time, away from the business, to rejuvenate ourselves. When youre aggressive about getting rest and relaxation, regularly and frequently, youll see increased creativity and productivity. The more free time you take, the more creativity and productivity youll experience. To make breakthroughs in income, productivity and creativity, significantly increase the amount of free time away from your business.
Resolve to Develop Stronger Business Relationships
Your economic future is dependent on other peoples future. Your success in your enterprise is based on the extent that you help other people to succeed in their lives. Ask every person you encounter what he or she wants to have accomplished three years from now. Focus on finding ways to help others in achieving their goals. By adding value to their preferred future, you not only deepen your relationship; you also create huge opportunities for yourself.
Resolve to Get in Better Shape
Take a hike. Or a jog, swim, or bike ride. With few exceptions, those who are consistently successful have lots of energy. They have the stamina and the energy to be creative, tirelessly serve their clients, put in the extra effort when necessary and go the extra mile for their employees.
The bottom line is that regular, strenuous exercise is good for business, because its good for you. You can increase your well-being, jump-start your days, boost your confidence, turbo-charge your creativity and knock down stress by exercising consistently.
And thats not all. Think of exercise as a gift to yourself and to your loved ones. A gift of longer life, more energy, happier disposition, increased creativity and reduced pain.
Start by exercising your free will. Commit to any of these ten resolutions and make this a great 2001!
About the author:
Gary Lockwood is Your Business Coach. Increasing the effectiveness and enhancing the lives of CEOs, business owners and professionals. Get the Free BizSuccess newsletter at bizsuccess.com or send any blank email to subscribe@BizSuccess.com
Gary@BizSuccess.com
http://www.BizSuccess.com
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