All the resolution-crazy individuals are pouring into CrossFit gyms, while kale sales are skyrocketing. It’s the beginning of the year, which is, of course, the official time for all of our good intentions.
However, resolutions are not just for your health. A new year for entrepreneurs may be the incentive that you need to refresh your business. What mistakes did you make in 2017? What lessons can you learn from these experiences? Use the new year to reboot and as a chance to start over in 2018 and get things right.
Make sure that the resolutions that you make are meaningful and measurable. Running a pop-up shop may have been on your 2017 list, but how can you measure whether it was successful or not? Having a lemonade stand in your front yard does technically qualify, however, I am assuming that isn’t what you mean. Revise the wording in your resolutions and add measurable specifics into them: Run an X pop-shop and sell X by X.
Your resolutions can be digested more easily by cutting your large goals up into bite-sized pieces. So, if your resolution is being able to quit your day job in 2018 then break this up into small steps. Perhaps your January goal will be to get your budget established, source a product and get your online store set up. Every month needs to be broken up into more manageable (yet ambitious and scary) tasks with the culmination being turning in your resignation letter in December.
When it comes to making lists, I like using pen and paper. My iPhone still hasn’t given me the satisfaction of being able to cross-completed tasks off my list. Maybe the whiteboard is your favorite medium, or perhaps reminders on a Google calendar will do it for you. There are also several great task apps that are available as well.
Pomodoro Timer can be used for procrastination, Rescue Time for productivity and focus, Trello for planning and tracking, Zzpier to clone yourself, Any.DO for your lists, CARROT Fit or MyFitnessPal to work your butt or Mint for Money. The list goes on and on.
Check the Shopify App Store to find even more tools that can help you with your business.
It’s hard to break a bad habit, and it can be very difficult to form the good ones. For every habit and person, the steps needed and amount of time can vary greatly. So if you have a resolution of wanting to stay on track with your expenses, then your success might rely on you forming some new habits. You may want to consider adding a habit into your morning routine, setting a reminder up, or getting help from a tool like Pavlok or an app like Habitlist.
The word team has no “i” in it! You can apply the gym-buddy item to any resolution. When you get someone else involved in the process, another level of accountability is added and provides you with extra inspiration after you have run out of your own. Try to find a mentor, join an online entrepreneur community, or use Stickk or another similar app.
The personal resolutions that you have can support your business-related ones. If you have “go to the gym on your 2018 list, then your brain will be helped in addition to your physique. Exercising on a regular basis will provide you with more energy to get things done along with brainpower so that you can make smarter and quicker decisions.
Getting dessert after you finish dinner is the oldest motivational technique around. I am using this tactic right now: once I finish writing this article, I will let myself surf on Pinterest for 20 minutes.
Bonus: trying using a “mindful” respite by playing video games, adult coloring, or yoga. Mindful activities cannot only reward your progress but can also help with sleep and stress.
To gain perspective and clarity, step away from demanding projects.
It can be hard to do this. Share your resolutions with someone. When you make them publicly, then there is a much greater chance that you will follow through with them.
Your brand new New Balance trainers might be wasting away inside of your closet, but after failing last year at self-improvement. But it’s a new year, and new chance to improve. Resolve with wild abandon!
Author Bio: Courtney C. Martin is a freelance digital marketing specialist for a custom web design agency in Toronto. She helps eCommerce enterprises with search engine optimization strategies that increase conversions and generate revenue.
