People keep making New Year resolutions, year after year after year. And conspicuously, most don’t live up to them. Anyway, that’s not the point here.  The point here is, making resolutions, every year makes sense because it reminds you of the most important things you need to achieve in life, no matter what. And this, in turn, helps you take measured steps to reach them. The idea is: Aim for the stars, if you fail, you’ll at least land on the moon.
In addition to your personal resolutions, you need to have your business resolutions figured out as well this year. With startup culture catching up in big cities and small, nailing down your business resolutions will keep your professional life in track along with your personal life.
Here I have listed 5 New Year resolutions that business owners should think of adopting in 2019.
#1. Find a Friend with whom you can share your Business GoalsÂ
As per a study conducted by American Society of Training and Development, 65% of people are most likely to achieve their goals once they have confided it to another person. And this might increase to nearly 95% when they hold ongoing meetings with these people and share the progress. This indeed makes a huge difference.
#2. Indulge in some Hand-holding
As you know, it’s a dog-eat-dog world. There’s cut-throat competition everywhere. The seasoned ones, obviously, are out of the harm’s way. But then, it’s the novices, the ones who are just starting out, who have to bear the brunt.
So, this new year, make sure to free up some time for people who are just starting out this year. Mentor them, if need be. Or be a good sounding board for advice. If you are paid back in some way, well and good, otherwise, be assured, you will be seen as an authority in your field.
#3. Experiment with Newer Technologies
As it turns out, blockchain is making waves in the tech world. Sure, the tech has received more brickbats than bouquets, but then, it’s just a matter of time, when this decentralized, encrypted technology will find mass acceptance. So, push the boundaries of your knowledge this year and experiment with newer technologies such as Blockchain, AR and VR and more. Consult some of the top AR and VR companies, if you are all ready to experiment with this emerging technology.
#5. Start Delegating
Startups and small business CEOs prefer to micro-manage. Apparently, most of these businesses are at bootstrapping stages, so their misgivings are understandable. But then, they should realize that delegating work will leave them with more time on hands, which in turn, could be used by them to focus on the core aspect of their businesses and possibly expand and grow their business. Â Â Â
So, ask yourself where you tend to spend most of the time? Which job keeps you busy all the time and you won’t mind someone taking it over from you?
The answers to these questions will help you narrow down the work that you should delegate to someone else in your team.
#4. Explore Facebook and Instagram Ads
It goes without saying. Social media should be an indispensable part of your marketing strategy these days. In fact, you should be well-versed with the marketing strategies of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, and more. If not all, you should at least have a handle on Facebook and Instagram. Both these social media platforms have given organic traffic a go-by and are profoundly focusing on brands that are opting for inorganic or payment mode of growth. So, before it’s too late, hire some of the top class social media marketing companies to get your Facebook and Instagram ad strategies right from the word go.Â
#6. Plan Ahead
As you plan your 2019 resolutions, don’t forget to keep the bigger picture in mind. Yes, you need to think over and beyond 2019 and not just for the upcoming year. Agreed, even thinking of 2019 resolutions is giving you sleepless nights; forget about the resolutions for the years ahead. But then, as they say, things that need to be done should be done, no matter what. So, just write down what your business would look like in the next five years. Chart out the steps that you need to take to achieve those goals. You could even use goal tracker apps to list down the things that you need to undertake to achieve your personal and professional goals.    Â
#7. Work-Life BalanceÂ
For startups and small business owners, the day starts in the office and even ends at the office. Like Bill Gates, most of them are already spending their nights lying on a couch beneath their workstations. In one sense, it’s good that you are so committed and devoted to making your business a real success. But then, don’t overdo it because cases of burnout are on the rise. So take time out to recharge yourself by spending more time with your loved ones, by sleeping a little more, and most importantly, carving out some me-time for yourself.
Be, rest assured, taking breaks amidst stressful periods is sure to relax your mind and more specifically your body recharged for the next challenging endeavors.
Over to you now! Can you think of any more business resolutions to add to this list? Share them in the comments below!
Author Bio: This is Jennifer Warren, a Content Crafter for GoodFirms – a review and research platform for mobile app development, web development companies and more. The company publishes research reports on a consistent basis. Check out Mobile App Development Cost research with inputs from various industry thought-leaders.
