2020 was the year that introduced us all to the New Normal, and 2021 more or less kept on with it. With news arising of more travel bans because of new strains of the coronavirus, small businesses may have to lean into being more flexible and creative with their offerings. The good news is that you don’t have to wait until January 2022 to get to work: there is time for you to set things in motion and end this year strong in your business.
- Declutter your email inbox
Having a crowded inbox, especially in this festive period, can be an unexpected source of stress that could ruin everything. Clear your email inbox to make it more manageable during your peak sales period, which is probably the period we are in right now.
- Declutter your workstation
A clear head and a clear workstation help you focus on your business goals, allowing you to finish the year strong. Remove everything that doesn’t need to be there and reorganize it for more functionality and productivity. You can add a picture or something to make your workspace look nice and keep your motivation high.
- Set goals the right way
Setting goals the right way means making sure that your goals are clear, specific, and measurable. When you set your goals the right way, you have done half the work already. Reaching your business goals won’t be a struggle when your goals are SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely.
- Create a marketing calendar
Finish the year strong by creating a marketing calendar that lets you know what you’re going to be doing and when before the year rounds up. You can even go further and create a calendar for the first quarter of the new year. Things that should be in that marketing calendar should include email marketing, social media, blog posts, advertising, team goals, and deadlines.
- Reevaluate your processes and systems
What is working? What is not working? What worked well in Q1, but didn’t do well in Q3? Could we have done better here? Could we have done something differently there? Objectively assess your business to see what changes you need to make in your processes and systems.
- Build those connections
Never underestimate the power of building a community and maintaining connections. . Your network includes your partners, your existing customers, your old customers, your friends and family, your colleagues, former schoolmates, et cetera. Send out Thank You emails, inform them of holiday deals and discounts, and reach out to people who haven’t engaged with your business in recent times. Even if no one is buying, you have made sure that your business is at the top of their mental list for when they want to buy.
- Say thanks!
The end of the year is a great time to tell everyone how much you appreciate them for being a part of your business. Say thank you to your partners, colleagues, staff, customers, and others who support your business via personalized emails, personalized WhatsApp messages, gift baskets, handwritten notes, gift cards, or a freebie.
- Let go of limiting mindsets
Failure doesn’t define you. That is one thing you must come to terms with. Wherever you think you failed during the year, you need to let go of it and move on. You cannot finish the year strong if you are fighting with yourself, and the reason you may do that is that there are some limiting beliefs you are struggling with. Write those limiting beliefs, then write out the opposite, positive versions of those beliefs. Find proof that these positive beliefs are true, and set your mind to believe them. A mind shift is important for you to finish this year strong.
- Stay focused on your ‘why’
Why do you do what you do? What is the goal your business is accomplishing? Is everyone on your team aligned with your why? Keeping the end-game in sight helps everyone stay focused and moving in the same direction, and bringing your ‘why’ back to the fore will add some zest to finishing the year strong.
Now that you have a plan and you have broken free of those limiting thoughts, it is time to finish the year strong and enter 2022 with SMART goals, a new mindset, and a better attitude about your business. You can do this!
