Number 1-Evaluate the previous Year: Whether the previous Year was exciting, awesome or not for your business, it is important that you evaluate it. To evaluate means to simply assess the previous Year critically to understand areas you did fantastically well and areas that need improvements. The best way to do this, is to look at every month or every quarter of the previous Year critically. If you have a team, it is better to do it with your team in a brainstorming meeting. This action will help you identify your business area of strength and weakness so you will know what you need to improve in your business.

Number 2-Set a goal for the New Year: The next thing to do is to set a clear goal for the New Year. Most entrepreneurs enter into a new year without setting a goal for their businesses. It is important that you clearly define where you are taking your business in the new year. It cannot be business as usual. Once you have clear goal or goals that you want to achieve in your business, it makes the entrepreneurial journey easy for you and your team in the New Year.

Number 3-Create a strategic plan: A goal without a plan is just a wish. There is nothing wrong with building castle in the air as long as you have a concrete plan of how you intend to put a foundation underneath it.  When you have created your goal or goals, then you need to strategically plan how you are going to achieve it. The planning process will help you identify the resources you need in terms of funds and human capital. The plan becomes like your compass that will point you in the direction that you need to go. At every giving point in time, you and your team will have a definite goal you want to achieve for your business.

Number 4-Update your clients’ database: One of the key things that determines the success of any business is customers. No wonder they say customers are kings and queens, and you have to treat them like royals. Any business without deliberate strategy of how to get and keep its customers will obviously run out of business. It is just a matter of time. So, when you come into the New Year, you need to update your clients’ database. You need to identify your key customers and those who patronized once in a while. You need to devise a unique strategy of how you intend to keep them coming back in the New Year. Don’t forget there are several distractions out there; you obviously have competitors who are also looking for the attention of your supposed customers. That is the reason why you have to find a way of making them feel very special and then offer them the best they cannot get anywhere else.

Number 5-Execution: You already have a goal for the New Year. You already have a strategic plan of how you intend to achieve your goal. Luckily, you still have database of customers you can start with. The next thing is to swing into full action. Goals and strategic plan are useless if you don’t execute them. So, once you have clearly moved from step one to four, then you don’t need to wait any longer; throw all your weight on execution. However, always remember to evaluate your actions and results at the end of every week or month. Good luck in your endeavors in this New Year. Once again, Happy New Year.