With many minds otherwise occupied, December can offer us much-needed quiet time to start thinking about the year ahead. What would you like to achieve, and what are the best business skills for you to turn your ideas into reality?
It’s easy to think that December is all about glitter and Christmas preparations, but there’s much more to the final month of the year than that.
If you’re thinking, “can’t all my planning and prep wait until January?”, of course it can. But ….
January is often far busier than we think it’s going to be, and we quickly become overwhelmed with ‘doing’ so all those good intentions about this year being better – or more successful – than last, just disappear.
So, as we draw to the end of 2022 I have pulled together my list of the three best business skills you should develop for a happy and prosperous 2023.
1. Planning is THE Best Business Skill Because It’s Just Like Insurance
During my online networking meetings, I’ve heard lots of business owners mention that they’re not going to bother planning for 2023.
Why should they, when 2020 was such an unpredictable year? Who could possibly have predicted what was going to happen, let alone plan for it?
But planning is exactly what helps successful businesses through chaos and uncertainty.
It doesn’t need to be a complicated, in-depth process.
Taking the time to ask yourself a simple set of questions about where you want your business to be, and how you’ll get there is often enough.
Remember the first line of that famous Rudyard Kipling poem, ‘If?’
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs …
A good plan will give you something to focus on, so you can “keep your head” when the unexpected strikes.
As the owner of three different businesses over the years, I’ve learned from hard-earned experience that simply coming up with a good idea, then winging it with everything else isn’t enough, particularly when hard times come knocking.
So, while I understand that for many people, planning is the yawn-inducing side of owning a business, it’s a valuable skill that just about every successful entrepreneur has mastered.
(Yes, even the ones who look like they’re flying by the seat of their pants!)
2. Systems and Processes Help You Get Paid!
The next best business skill to develop is devising and implementing a network of systems and processes that will help your business stay organised, retain and find new clients… and keep on getting paid!
These involve things like setting up a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system, which will help you stay in easy, regular email contact with clients.
Or, maybe an organised invoicing process that allows people to pay you in good time.
You may think that last part sounds strange, but I recently received three months’ worth of backdated invoices from a cleaning company I use.
I knew the invoices were coming, so I’d kept the money aside… but what if I had just decided not to pay?
The longer you wait, the harder it will be to claim outstanding payments. So, why not use a quieter December to develop a system to make sure you get those 2023 invoices out on time!
3. Gen Up on Your Social Media Marketing
Spend time in December to carry out your social media ‘housekeeping’.
Make sure all your profiles are up to date, have a strong About section and a good photo of you.
You can go through your connections and make a decision if all of them are bringing you value. Maybe you need to loose a few?
What about spending time to get to grips with all things you don’t know how to do on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter
Or, learn how to check your stats and analytics, so you can keep doing more of what works, and ditch what doesn’t.
You could even gift yourself a head start on the year, by creating and scheduling January’s content in advance.
If you need any more inspiration here’s something that will really help.
You can also arrange a half-hour, complimentary call during which we can chat about your business goals and dreams.
I can definitely help you turn your dreams into reality and take your business from Passion to Profit in 2023!