7 Steps for preparing your business for 2011

As we wrap up 2010 this week let me encourage you to focus on 7 actions that you can take to make 2011 a great year.
1. Take responsibility. You are responsible for the direction of your business. The good, the bad, and the ugly, your business is what you have made it. The good news is that if you want it to be different in 2010, you have the power to do things differently, and thus get different results.
2. Face reality. Nobel Prize Winner Richard P. Feynman once said, "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool." Be honest with yourself about what's working and about what's not working in your business. Get clear on current reality.
3. Determine to overcome fear. Mark Twain said, "I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened. Don't let negative talk or a slow economy overwhelm you with anxiety. Commit to live with courage, and then take action to move your business forward this year.
4. Budget, budget, budget. I like to set quarterly budgets in my business with realistic cash flow projections. Remember, cash is king! Cash is to your business what fuel is to your car. Learn to operate by a budget to make sure you control expenses and do not run out of cash.
5. Work on yourself. Develop yourself as a business leader. Get some training, plug into a proven coaching program (like The Growth Coach 2-year Strategic Mindset Program), read, and work on your time management accountable to someone for personal and professional growth! Remember, if nothing changes in you, very little will change in your business.
6. Create a to-do list for the first week in January. Take action right away to move your business forward in 2011. What will you do the week of January 4th?
7. Create a 2011 Business Growth Plan. Yogi Berra said, "If you don't know where you're going, any plan will do." However, if you take the time to get clear about your vision, and create a realistic, actionable plan, chances are that you will achieve your goals for 2011.
Congratulations on making it through the challenges of 2010. You now have a golden opportunity to make 2011 a prosperous and dynamic year. But it will probably not happen without the right mindset and a good plan. Let us help you succeed.

Can You Change?

I work with executives and business owners every week who are asking themselves the question, "Can I make the changes I need to make to lead my company to the next level?" Many of them are also asking the question, "Can I find a way to bring more balance and less stress into my life?"

These are very important questions that reside near the heart of almost every leader I talk to. I want to give you hope - you CAN change!

Studies show that when doctors tell their patients that they will die if they don't change their habits, only one in seven will be able to follow through successfully. Why is change so hard, even when faced with a life & death outcome?

The good news is that one in seven DO change! They discover the critical keys to making lasting change. Through coaching we help our clients not only discover but also implement those keys! I will be sharing these in subsequent blog posts so I invite you to subscribe to this feed (button upper right) and track with us. However, to get us started let me ask 2 questions for you to ponder as we begin this journey.
1. What is the one activity that you know if you did superbly well and consistently would have significant positive results in your personal life?
2. What is the one activity that you know if you did superbly well and consistently would have significant positive results in your professional or work life?
Let me encourage you to think about these 2 questions and get crystal clear on 1 or 2 specific changes that could significantly improve your situation. Focus on these so that they are etched in your mind.