Last time we discussed the goals you can set this last quarter of the year to move forward.
Now I want to give you some action steps on each of those goals.
Business Owners:
- Put together a marketing plan for the rest of the year – Get a calendar out or print off some calendar pages and start writing in when you are off, what you are promoting, how you want to promote it (newsletter, JV’s, social media, etc.) and when you want to do these promotions. This will keep you on track and is often something that an assistant (or yourself) can set up ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about it.
- Look at your products and services…what kind of discount or special can you give people to celebrate the holidays but keep them buying? For instance what about a “Gratitude” sale on Black Friday. You can give a steep discount if they purchase on that one day. – This is something you can tailor to specific days. Some people have done 40% discounts in honor of their 40th birthdays or $8.00 products in honor of their child’s 8th birthday. Come up with some creative sales and get them out there.
- Take the down time that you do have to focus on your creations for the coming year – take a day and work through the list of ideas you have for new offerings then decide what you really want to focus on and start there.
- Network! This can be done any time of the year and is a great way to get yourself in front of those people that you want to work with.
- Housekeeping. This is something we all have to keep up with in our business. Go through your files and make sure everything is up to date and filed correctly. Make sure your website is optimized. All the things that you don’t have tons of time to do when you are super busy – this is the perfect time to delegate the tasks you are not willing to do or are not skilled at and that will let you focus on the tasks that only you can do and that you want to do in order to be ready for the new year.
Career Professionals:
- Put together a career marketing plan for the rest of the year – who would you like to network with? Send a resume to? Conduct an informational interview with?
- Look at your products and services… the product: you. the services: what you bring to the table. Review your resume. What needs to be updated based on your accomplishments this year? Create or re-write your elevator speech.
- Take time for career strategy planning for the coming year. It doesn’t have to be all day. Spend a morning at Starbuck or Panera Bread. Go to the park or church library. Set goals for the coming year and action steps for each one.
- Network! This can be done any time of the year and is a great way to get yourself in front of those people that you want to work with. You never know who you will meet at those holiday parties! Since business slows down for most companies this would be a great time to schedule an appointment.
- Housekeeping. This is something we all have to keep up with in our career. What needs to be tackled first? Your work office or your home office? If you don’t have much vacation time left, take advantage of those quiet days in the office and get organized. Take a day while you are home to tackle that home office.
Remember to break things down. Don’t think you have to do everything in a day and don’t overwhelm yourself with a huge to do list. Break down tasks and put together a list each day that you can check off what is done and move on to the next day and project.
