The Road Ahead: What Will You Do to Finish Strong?

We have now stepped into the last 3 months of this wonderful year. Checking in from time to time on the way things are done and the results we are getting can bring opportunities for great success. It helps us look at what is working, what is not working, what is missing and the next steps needed to be successful. The trouble we can get into is that at times reaction to change may be fearful and irrational, which can result in failures, a decrease in quality and a loss of production. When it comes to work and business, it can be tempting to give in to those anxieties by doing what’s always been done. But priming the pump to have a better ending of the year always involves some form of adjustment to free up the time, money and energy to tackle new opportunities.

How do you decide what changes are the most important ones to make?

Ask yourself these questions:
1. What personal and business tolerations have interfered with personal and work progress so far this year? Tolerations are a good indication of issues in need of resolution.

2. Are we, or am I, on track for the goals we/I created for this year? Why or why not? How will those obstacles be addressed? Setting new goals without having evaluated the goals and the results so far can result in a cycle of substandard results.

3. What fiscally responsible goal (making more money, collaborating, creating new products/services, improved marketing strategy, improving the company culture, being a better leader etc.) will also be fun? All work and no play make Jack and Jill dull (and bored) boys and girls, as the saying goes.

What do you need to change to end strong?

Choose passion over profit. Connect to your bigger purpose in life, work and business and the rewards will flow effortlessly. Passionate people attract success.

Higher learning. Technology changes fast. Staying on top of what’s working now is only half the battle. Discovering what’s up and coming and leveraging that knowledge is the key to an exceptional year.

Celebrate success. Acknowledging and rewarding success keeps everyone motivated. Mark those mini-milestones with celebration and recognition!

Add, do not subtract. When repeat clients stop buying your products or services, something needs to change. Instead of cutting prices, add value instead–bundle existing services/products, add bonuses or create new offerings add relationship.

What are your blind spots? Every driver has blind spots. That’s what rear-view mirrors are for. Blind spots in the work and business environment can be harder to identify. How does a person avert disaster in a work environment without the benefit of mirrors?

Ask around. Getting honest feedback from clients, customers and service providers can be as uncomfortable as it is invaluable. Do it anyway. (We have the tools to help you get the feedback you need) Check them out Click here

Seek professional help. Getting an objective outsider’s opinion can help you see what is going well or not.

Coffee time. Chat up a colleague and encourage them to share their observations about what you are doing well and what needs improvement. Sometimes what needs to change is missed because it is so “obvious.”

Moving into the last quarter of this year doesn’t have to be a scary proposition.  Having a clear sense of what’s ahead can circumvent failure and create a successful year.  And, who doesn’t want that!

I wish you success and happiness
Corinne

PS: I would love to hear your thoughts and Ideas. Share below.