As I reflect on the year that is drawing to a close, I thought I’d to share with you some conversations that I have been privileged to have with clients during the year. I've tried to be smart and tie it into an acronym of the word Christmas. Yes, I know it sounds corny, but here goes…
Cash flow – Sales is vanity, profit is reality, cash is king! In truth, cash flow is the lifeblood of your business and when it comes to cash flow management, preventing cash issues is far easier than trying to solve them after the event.
Happy – If you aren't "happy” (satisfied, enjoying) your work - stop and do something else. You do actually have choices and options, sometimes you need the help of another pair of eyes to see them.
Rejuvenate – Make time to care for yourself as a business owner. Figure out what spins your wheels and allocate time and resources to pursue it. As we like to say, your business is a reflection of you…so make sure you are taking care of yourself!
Innovate – One of the certainties of life is change - get used to it. Be aware of it. Choose to respond positively to it. Innovate or die.
Sales – Be weary of increasing sales at any cost. Identify the type of customer that you are ideally suited to serving and focus on serving them to the best of your ever-improving ability.
Team – Our teams are our most valuable asset, treat them as such. If they aren't, move them on and get ones that are.
Marketing – Target your marketing message at your ideal client personas. The power of social media is significant for many businesses.
Appreciation – Pausing to appreciate our geographic location, our network of friends and family relationships, gives us better perspective
Strategy – "Plans are nothing, planning is everything" (Dwight Eisenhower). The value of taking time out to look at the big picture for your business is huge!
As another year comes to an end, I hope we all have learnt something, done some exciting and fun things and most of all connected with those we love and care for.
Merry Christmas
Clinton