We’re all greeting 2019 with optimism and enthusiasm – and rightly so, yet there’s no doubt that, for businesses, the year holds some trepidation… With the uncertainties of Brexit looming, and the onset of Making Tax Digital, the first quarter could be a bit scary for some small business owners. But it needn’t be!
The good news is that any change that affects your business can be positive, so this is the time to set yourself some solid ‘intentions.’ We’re saying intentions rather than goals or resolutions as no one sticks to new year’s resolutions, but an intention means aiming towards the ‘bigger picture’ goals, allowing us to see an end result in a more realistic timeframe.
Here are three top tips to get your year off to a productive start:
- Start with one thing
When thinking about your intentions, avoid making a huge list of all the things you want to achieve. It’s overwhelming and hard to change lots of things in one go. Instead, choose one thing to focus on; keep it simple.
- Give yourself a week
If you have a specific business behaviour, habit or action that you want to change, try to do whatever it is for a whole week. It’s only seven days. Of course, you can carry on after the week is up, but you’re not putting yourself under any pressure to do it long term. Making a smaller commitment is easier to achieve and the satisfaction of a ‘quick win’ means you’re much more likely to keep going.
- Do one thing you’ve been putting off
We all put off things that we don’t want to do but know that we should do because it’s easier to push them aside than face them. So don’t stop to think about it – just do it now! You’ll then be able to concentrate with a clear head on the positive things that you enjoy or want to achieve.
What would you like to achieve in 2019? If you say your intentions out loud, you’re more likely to achieve them, so you’re welcome to call us on 020 8530 0720 and tell us your plans. If you have a business-related intention, we can make sure it happens – so call us or email paula.w@nordens.co.uk.
Wishing you a very happy, successful, positive and prosperous new year!
