Archive for the ‘Quick Tips’ Category

The holidays are over. 2009 is behind us.  A New Year and a chance for a new beginning is upon us.

As you reflect upon 2009, what have you learned that you can take forward to 2010?

We have a choice: we can learn the lessons taught to us in the classroom of life, or we can ignore them (and continue to be presented with the same learning opportunities over and over again.)

Perhaps you learned you accomplish more when you work less. Or maybe the whole idea of taking care of yourself first – in order to be your best for those around you – was a lesson for you this year.

Don’t let the opportunity for learning some lessons from 2009 pass you by. Take the opportunity to figure out what you learned and then how you can use that knowledge to your advantage in 2010.

Here’s a continuation of my previous post.

1) Prepare New Year’s cards for your clients and vendors. Include a personal thank-you note.

2) Clean out your office: books, papers, files. Recycle what you can.

3) Clean out your soft files:first back up on to an external drive, then go through all your files and delete.

4) Do a technology check: cell phone or PDA, desk top, laptop, etc. Determine if you need to do any upgrades or purchase any new equipment.

5) Put a date on the calendar the week of January 11th for 2010 planning.

Year-End Checklist #1

With two weeks left in the year, most of us are busy splitting our time between holiday preparations and our businesses. Here are 5 things you can do between now and December 31st to help your business.

1) Determine your marketing investment for 2010, or at least for the first quarter.

2) Figure out where you’ll spend those dollars. (Do a marketing plan.)

3) Run your financial reports and decide where you can cut expenses in 2010.

4) Take a look at every sinble point of contact you have with your clients/customers. Make each one of them “simply the best.” (Your voice mail greeting, email signature and font, business cards, any printed marketing materials.)

5) Call your accountant and have a tax-planning conversation if you haven’t done so already.