Change your perspective on resolutions

That is, instead of concentrating on Jan. 1 as the one and only opportunity for change, start now or next month or in the second quarter.

“If we start resolutions at a little different time, they have different weight and just might last until May 16,´ said Debra Benton, owner of Benton Management Resources.

Benton said that too often, New Year’s resolutions dissolve by about the middle of February. Avoid the cachet that accompanies the first of January and instead focus on the self-discipline it takes to actually change.

“Otherwise, it’s just like a silly mind game that we play,” Benton said.

Keep it simple

“Plain old keep it simple,” is marketing consultant Ann Clarke’s recommendation.

Clarke, founder of GR8 Ideas at Work, suggests that execs get hold of a year-at-a-glance calendar and post it in a place they’ll see every day. These calendars can sometimes be had for free from area print shops.

Use colored adhesive dots to mark target dates “especially when it comes to marketing,” Clarke advised.

“A good marketing plan doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a year-long process that one has planned,” she said.

For example, Clarke suggests placing a dot on Dec. 3 with the notation “mail out holiday cards.” From there, back up into October and place dots as reminders to plan for the production of those holiday cards.

The calendar is a place to post project deadlines, marketing deadlines and special events planned with customers.

“A myriad of events can go up there and make you feel like at least you have a handle on your plan,” Clarke said. “Just by adapting something as simple as a free, year-at-a-glance calendar, you can get a lot of control over the more-complex parts of your life.”

If your goal for the year ahead is to increase sales, for example, figure out how you’re going to do that.

Dana Klausmeyer, strategic business adviser with SB Corporate Advisors, said business owners often are focused on their goals for the year ahead. The next step is figuring out how they’re going to meet those goals.

Break goals down

Break goals down in to the specific actions required to accomplish them, Klausmeyer said. Resolutions lie in the actions necessary to meet those goals.

“When you create that resolution, you have to think about how you will know if you’ve been successful,” Klausmeyer said.

It’s one thing to resolve, for instance, to communicate weekly with employees. “It’s another thing to follow through on it,” she said.

Create a mechanism for measuring success, Klausmeyer said. Thus, if the resolution is to communicate with every employee weekly, make a list of employees and check off each name as the resolution is accomplished.

“There is a really huge opportunity that’s right around the corner for businesses,´ said Pam Nelson, business analyst, organizational consultant and founder of In Its Place. “We’re starting to come out of the recession. It’s slow, but opportunities are going to start opening up, so the foundation within every business needs to be solid.”

Now is the time to position for growth. Nelson said business operators need to take a close look at key critical processes, making certain they understand how their business operates and that the processes involved are solid.

“They should not be relying on revenues or profit-and-loss statements to know how their businesses are doing. Or — worse yet — waiting for a customer to give them feedback,” she said. “There are earlier warning signals in their system on whether or not they’re having problems.”

Attend to organization, time-management and staff issues. “Empower your employees to make decisions that are appropriate for the activities they are performing,” Nelson said.

Set goals and provide employees with both the tools to meet those goals and the means to measure their performance and success toward meeting them.

Don’t expect it all at once

Make a plan for implementing those resolutions over time, Klausmeyer said.

Klausmeyer suggests looking at the list of things you want to accomplish and pick one area to focus on. When that becomes habit, move along to the next. Leave behind the pressure of yet another long list of to-dos.

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