10 resolutions for entrepreneurs to action in 2019

The end of the year is always a good time to reflect on achievements from the last 12 months. But the pressure we put on ourselves to fulfil promises for the next year often fall to the wayside after a few weeks of effort. So we’re sharing 10 small resolutions that you can easily implement in your business that could mean big things. Make these your resolutions, then go forth and action them in 2019!

Start doing
Although planning is crucial when you have your own business, sometimes you need to take some risks and go for it to get results. We’re not saying you should be outright reckless, perhaps just a little braver. We love this quote from Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Have better meetings
If you find that your meetings are not productive enough it’s probably time to switch up your style. When you’re bored, information tends to be easily forgotten so it may be worth changing the dynamic. You’ll find that when there is interest and focus on the topic being discussed, ideas will flow more easily (which could also mean you save time by finishing earlier!). For further tips, see our blog post here.

Always evaluate what went well
Just because something has been working well for a while doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be checked to see if there’s a way to improve. When preparing a campaign or project there will be lots of careful planning in the run-up to the finished product, but reporting on what went well afterwards is often overlooked, even though it is as crucial as what went wrong. If you need to know what worked well and what didn’t, don’t be afraid to ask your customers/audience.

Learn to ask
Although it’s convenient to do things yourself, seek assistance if you need it – most people will be willing to lend a hand. Delegation means that you’re not overloading yourself, and also gives you another perspective – a methodology that you may not have considered before. Giving more responsibility to your staff is crucial to creating better workers, so they can grow and gain experience. If you need further support, our Facebook StartUp Community is a great place to connect and ask other business owners questions.

Schedule in time to plan
Although it can be hard to take time away from day-to-day tasks to focus on future events, it’s important to schedule in planning sessions. In the Marketing team here at MadeSimple we have regular days in which we plan at least a month ahead. If you’ve not yet come up with ideas for the next few months, create a rough outline and then draft this onto a calendar. It’s easier to manage everything if you have a rough idea of what’s coming up.

Learn new things
Feel like you haven’t learnt anything new this year? It’s time to get out of your comfort zone. If you don’t know how to do something – learn. The more skills you have, the more effectively you’ll be able to run your business. Richard Branson: “My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long university education that I never had – every day I’m learning something new.”

Write things down
One of the best ways to remember what needs to be done is to write it down. Make note of ideas, long-term goals and plans. Computers are great but having these in front of you is always a helpful reminder of what you need to do.

Get up earlier
It’s easier to get things done when there is less noise, and being more productive earlier in the day will be much appreciated when the work day is coming to an end. If you struggle to stick to tasks, work in short bursts and give yourself a (realistic) time to get the task done by so you can move onto the next thing. Take regular breaks to help stop the brain fog. Top tip – get on with the tasks by tackling harder or more time-consuming ones first.

Connect with your customers with photos and videos
Social media isn’t just a great way to keep up with pop culture – it also represents a chance to get to know and connect with your customers. As well as adding an authentic ‘human approach’, using photos and videos for your business is a good way to be more visible, due to social media’s changing algorithms.

Read more
If Bill Gates makes an effort to read 50 books a year, trying to read just a little bit more should be a breeze!

Follow these resolutions and give you and your business the best possible chance for success in 2019. Thanks for reading and have a brilliant Christmas and a happy New Year!