Alright the Christmas holidays are over. And you're probably getting ready for the New Year - which I believe many of us do. During this time of year - we start writing our New Year's resolutions - me included. But not this year ! Creative Business Solution - Resolutions are for Suckers!
Resolutions are overrated and most of the time they also don't work out like we plan.
There's two reasons for this.
#1- We tend to make resolutions based on big round numbers.
We want to double or sales, or make $20,000, or whatever by this time next year.
The trouble with that is that you're setting resolution based on what you want rather than what makes sense with your creative business.
I see this with creative entrepreneurs all the time. They say "I want to double my client base," and they're already working 20 hours a week. Doubling actually means 40 hours a week.
When I bring this to their attention, they say "Oh, I don't want that."
That's the trouble with big round numbers. They tend to blind you of the consequences of what it will take to hit that number.
We say things like "I want to do X next year," but there's no accountability built into it.
We just want to believe that somehow, throughout the year, things will work out. And when you have this laid back attitude, it gets very easy to put things off.
In March you're thinking, "Oh, I wanted to sell more prints, but I'll get to that after this current busy period is over." And then you say the same thing in June. And September. And then oh snap *, December is here again and you're making your plans for the new year.
There's a better way to make your creative business grow.
Here's a little advice... This s guaranteed to make your creative business grow a lot faster than it's growing right now.
Decide on few things you specifically want to be different in your creative business. I say "specifically" so that you don't pick something crazy just because it sounds good. This means - don't say "I want to double the size of my client list."
You should say "I'd like to add 10 new clients this time next year." That number is very important.Once you've figured out what you would like to have, then you'll ask yourself this question:
What will I have to do by the end of March, June, September and December to make that happen? In other words, see what kind of progress you'd have to make each quarter and actually figure out what you have to do to make it work.
Lets use the 10 new clients example:
From January to March I need to find a way to get 1 new client.
From April to June I need to find a way to get 2 new clients.
From July to September I need to find a way to get 3 new clients.
From October to December I need to find a way to get 4 new clients.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10.
Each quarter, you will say "I need to find a way to make this number happen." Working and thinking on a quarter system - makes resolution planning a lot easier. It keeps that business resolutions in arm reach and it keeps it from getting fuzzy or crazy.
When you have to get that something done by the end of a quarter, you have to pay attention to the work and hold yourself accountable.
It's not a resolutions. It's a plan. If you want something to be different in your creative business, have to be willing to get specific about what that means. You have to be willing to write down what it takes to make it happen and - more importantly - when you're going to get things done.
Focus on what you plan to accomplish each quarter, not just over the entire year. If you're not willing to do that, you don't have a resolution. You have a wish.
This I know - wishes don't pay the bills. Focused planed out resolutions do. That's the lesson. Don't dream. Plan.
Enjoy the New Year !
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