01.06.2011

Is Your Small Business Plan Working Out?

Forget about your waistline this January and try a New Year’s resolution for your small business instead. Assuming you started your company with a plan, this might be the perfect time to assess how that plan is delivering toward your needs and expectations. Consider the following ideas as inspiration for ways to step into 2011 with a fresh sense of direction:

Stop selling unprofitable products and services
That product you really thought would sell isn’t selling. That added service you took classes for and bought all those tools to provide isn’t being added. What might have been an amazing idea in a robust economy just isn’t working out now that things are tight. Hard as that truth might be, you can save yourself further pain and aggravation by freeing yourself of the extra weight.

Cut the dead weight
Staffing is a massive headache, and while you hate the idea of going through the search process for a new employee, there’s a good chance it’s time to make one of your employees “available to industry” in 2011. Revisit your business plan, take a sharp look at how things are going currently, and then make your choice by the numbers.

Leverage digital marketing and social media
If you’re getting rid of a product line or service that isn’t performing well, you’ll have some time freed up to do something else that interests you. There’s no cost of entry to much of the online marketing world beyond your time, and if you’re already spending time on Facebook, it might just be time to get a little more tactical in what you do with social media.

Pursue a dream
What was your dream when you first started your small business? Did you dream of freedom to travel, interesting work, and people who really care about their work? If the daily grind of running a small business in a tough economy has got you down, consider pursuing a portion of your dream. Spend a weekend away, or attend a local small business conference or a social media meetup in your area. The big dream might still be a few years off, but there’s no reason not to enjoy a portion of it in Q1 of 2011.

Live in the moment
Speaking of dreams, you’re running a business. Take a moment to consider that. For many of us, running our own business was something we dreamed of as we filed paperwork in a cubicle. You’ve actually made your small business work, and though times may be tough, you’ve achieved something to be proud of. While you’re looking to the future, don’t forget to spend some time in the moment and enjoy what you’ve done so far.

From all of us at NETwork, Happy New Year!