What a difference a month makes!
I hope that the year has started well for you?
In the last newsletter, I was thinking that we may well have to revert back to Zoom meetings for the Boardroom Buddies Mastermind due to Covid and here we are a month later with restrictions being lifted!
Apart from being a bit dreary, January can be quite an exciting month and a natural time when people do a bit of goal setting and planning for the rest of the year- I would prefer to do it at the end of the year personally but for some, January may be the earliest that they have some headspace to think about their business and its direction. Is that the same for you?
In the last newsletter, I gave some points that would be useful to think about when you review what you achieved/did last year and are planning for 2022.
- Update your cashflow
- Review your product/service offer
- Strength of your network and business relationships
- Decisions made
- How did you develop yourself?
How did you get on?
If you have managed to do it, that’s great! I know not everyone likes to plan things out and if you have done it, then the next step that I take clients through helps them to dive a little deeper into what they are aiming for and to examine their goal(s) from a variety of perspectives.
Sounds a bit of a faff?
This exercise is based on the work of Robert Dilts and is taken from NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming).
Even though you think that you have a clear picture or understanding of what you want to do this year it can throw up additional questions, ideas, and realisations that you hadn’t thought about before.
From the different perspectives, it will generate questions, ideas, and feelings and therefore deepen your understanding; giving you an emotional and psychological check, that it is what you want, and at the same time help you to fully understand ‘what has to happen to achieve it.
In a workshop setting, I actually ask participants to do this physically, and we did it in the November Boardroom Buddies planning session. Everyone works on their own goal(s) and you don’t even have to share it if you don’t want to. It is quite good fun and channels your thinking.
Want to give it a try?
At the next Boardroom Buddies Discovery session, I shall be taking you through the process as well as giving you a taste of what we do in a Mastermind group.
You can book here if you would like to come along https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/boardroom-buddies-mastermind-business-group--tickets-244519021977
Once you have done your planning what is the next step?
Well for many it might be formalising it even if only for personal use, into a document like a business plan. And of course, you can add as much detail as you like.
But how many of us have created a business plan put it in a drawer and it has never seen the light of day again? I know …. I have!
What I realised a while ago is that for me the plan needs to be visual, I need to see my goals regularly, in colour in front of me. It is the only way for me to stay on track.
I also need to review regularly because things change and because if I have put deadlines into the plan then I don’t get motivated to take the necessary action until I can feel the deadline looming.
So my plan is just about finished in colour and ready to go on my wall. For me, it is a Mind Map but of course, you must choose what is right for you. Some people prefer a vision board and others a tick list. Whatever it is, make sure you see it regularly and review it.
And if you are writing a document with your goals, make sure that the goals are written as if you have them now and in the present tense.
Maybe the group setting isn't for you? And if not I do have a possibility to provide some funded support.
Many of you will know that I am Co-Chair of a Board of Trustees for the charity Access to Business in Wolverhampton. I am passionate about the amazing work that they do, helping start-ups and registered SME businesses to develop, as well as helping individuals to become work-ready.
If you are based in the Black Country and are eligible, I may also be able to provide 12 hours of development and support fully-funded via the project and also tell you about some additional support that may be of interest to you.
Sound like it could be of interest? Just get in touch.
Have an amazing pre-spring I have noticed already that there are tiny buds appearing on the trees...and fingers crossed that the squirrels haven't dug up all of the bulbs :)
All the best
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