Welcome back to work. I hope that 2020 has started off well for you and your business. Just before we went on our Christmas break, I wrote an article on planning for 2020 and having a clear vision of where you want to take your business. If you have not read this, I suggest you click on this link before you read any further – click here.
So, you may not have done any planning yet, but month 1 of this year is almost over and before you know it, we will be celebrating Christmas again. Not sure about you, but I am finding that the years are going by quicker and quicker every year – is it because we are getting older or is it just because we are now so busy?
During my holiday break with my family over January, I gave a lot of thought as to how I want my business to look in 2020. I have my wish list which includes the following:
- Growth in my client base
- Growth in my revenue base
- Maybe one or 2 new employees
- Getting paid quicker by clients
- Working no more than 40 hours per week (maybe over 4 days – not 5)
- Improving my cashflow
- Getting my team trained up on new products we can offer
This is just a start. Myself and my business partner are spending a planning day together next week, which will be offsite with no interruptions, and we will compare our notes and formulate our plan. At the end of this planning day, we will have achieved the following:
- Review the KPI’s for the December 2019 Quarter
- Review the financial results of the December 2019 Quarter
- Identify our wins and losses
- Expand our One Page plan for the next 6 months
- Set KPI’s for the next 6 months
There is no doubt that you will all agree that running a business is not as glamorous as it seems. You need drive, passion, a great team, and not to mention a lot of hard work. The way we see it, you have 2 choices. Sit back and wait for things to happen – be reactive, manage cashflow as it happens and wait for the next customer to call you. Or, as an alternative – you could have a plan which will include marketing ideas and actions, a cashflow forecast to help manage the payments, a pro-active approach to new business, targets to reach and a more relaxed approach. Personally, I know which I prefer and so do the business owners who have already booked in for us to help them with all of this.
It is never too late to start planning. I’ve said this many times – you cannot manage what you don’t measure. To be able to measure something, you need to have the basis on which to measure it. You need to be able to spare at least one day out of your business to make this happen. It’s an investment of your time for the sake of your success. Make this year the best year you have had.
We still have availability in February to work with you. Act now. Give us a call on 03 9374 8400 and give your business the lift it deserves. Do it for YOU.
Mark Said, Founding Director at MKS Group
