New Year – New Start: Five top tips to achieving your business goals in 2019

Do you own a business but need some help to make it work? Are you looking to invest and grow in 2019? January is a great time for you to set yourself new goals or make positive changes. Why not take some time to think about what it is that you want to achieve, but remember always set yourself realistic goals and objectives- don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

Check out our top five tips to help you achieve your goals.

1.Reflect on the past

If you want to move forward, you’ll need to look back and by doing so you’ll be able to decide what worked well and what didn’t. Find a quiet space and jot down five things that stand out to you as positive experiences. For example, this could be a well-run campaign, attending an event or simply just delivering good customer service. Then do the same again but highlight what didn’t work well and by completing this exercise if will help you not to make the same mistakes again, you’ll also learn and develop new ideas too. Remember - no idea should ever be wasted!

2. Aim high, but start low

Set your sights high, this will help to build excitement and passion for your business. By using this mindset you’re most likely to exceed your original expectations – the key is not to be afraid! However, make sure that the goals you set are achievable. Start small and set yourself a list of objectives, every time you achieve an objective you’ll take a step little closer to achieving your overall goal. For example, one of your goals could be to grow - secure more clients. You could set objectives such as aligning yourself with a new target audience, identifying networking opportunities, revisiting your brand and key messages, building and executing a marketing campaign or identify networking opportunities. These smaller objectives will help you to achieve your overall goal.

3. What does success look like?

What does success look like for you? Is it increased profits, new quality clients? Take time to think about this, if you don’t know what it looks like then how will you know if you have achieved it? Success can look different for everyone so just be honest about what it means for you. If you’re unsure ask friends, colleagues what they think too.

By setting clear goals and an action plan you likely to increase your probability of success!

4. Stay flexible

Life has a habit of being unpredictable and very few things happen as we originally anticipated, not only in business but life in general. Therefore, be open to change don’t fear it. By adjusting to your environment you’ll stick to your plan without losing momentum.

That doesn’t mean you can get away without making a plan! Oh no, the plan is essential and will help you stick to your goal. It’s important not to sweat the small stuff and by being agile in your mindset you can be quick to navigate the road ahead, however unexpected it might be.

5. Keep your eye on the prize!

One of the main reasons that we don’t achieve our business goals is that we forget about them. In most cases, we set them and then we become distracted. ‘Out of sight, out of mind’ is the old familiar phrase. If you want to avoid this situation entirely be sure to place your goals front and centre – so you’ll never forget where you’re going.

Always track your progress – don’t know how? It’s as simple as making a list of all the things you need to do and ticking them off when they’re done, that way you’ll know you’re on schedule to achieve it. By staying focused, you can keep an eye on your progress - you can always change tactics to get back on track. Task managers are great for making lists and it will help you to stay on track, apps like Asana and Trello are ideal for this. If you’re in need of Business support or advice be sure to speak to one of our experienced advisers, go to https://www.blackpoolunlimited.com/newyearnewstart to find out more or follow us Twitter @BlackpoolUnltd or Facebook @Blackpoolunlimitedcom