Taking Stock. Part 1 of How to craft a 2015 plan for your business in five simple steps!

Are you with me?! We’re crafting a 2015 plan for our businesses. It’s just five easy steps. Here’s step one!

 

You can now get the 5 Step Plan as a PDF! Hurrah! Just click here!

Taking Stock

I always start with a review of the year just gone. A little reflection.  I call it Taking Stock. It’s a fun thing to do and gets me in the mood for planning! Plus I think it’s just GOOD to take a minute to stop and look back. Yes?!

Now, I don’t know about you but when I pause to think about the year that’s (almost) gone I go a bit blank! Is it just me? I hope not! Anyhoo in case it happens to you too here are some questions I use to kick me off! You could start with these and then go wherever your mind takes you!

Oh yes, and handwrite your answers down! Our brains are funny ‘ol things and they work much better when we write (not typing!) helps us clarify our thoughts and remember things better.

1. The Good Stuff

I think it’s nice to start with the good stuff, the stuff that’s gone well. So write down:

1. Twenty things you’ve accomplished (make the list BIG – you’ll struggle to start with and then your brain will open like a floodgate!)
2. Three things you’re proud to have done
3. Ten things that have gone well!
4. Two things that have surprised you (in a good way)
5. Five nice things that people have said about your business (If you don’t have these to hand start keeping a Smile File!)
6. Five things about your business in 2014 that you are happiest about!

2. The Other Stuff

So not everything goes well. That’s OK! We learn a lot from the woopsies! This time write down:

1. Five things you wish you’d done but haven’t
2. Three things that didn’t go as well as planned
3. Two things that surprised you (in a not-good way)
4. Two things that have been a disappointment
5. One thing you won’t do again

3. The Measurable Stuff

Now the measurable things! How did your business go according to measures which YOU think are important? Here are some measures you might want to think about. Or just go with your own!

1. Did you have a goal/s for this year? Did you accomplish it/them?
2. What profit did you make? How happy are you with this?
3. Are you happy with the number of sales you made this year?
4. Are you happy with the price you’ve been selling your products for? (Or did you end up giving significant discounts?)
5. Did you have a social media goal (eg number of likers/engagement)? Are you happy with what you have achieved?
6. Are you happy with the number of NEW customers you had this year?
7. Are you happy with the number of returning customers you had this year?

4. How do you feel?!

And finally, how do you FEEL about the year? Can you give it a score out of 10? Just be honest with yourself. 10 is amazing, 1 is hopeless and 6 is kinda OK.

Now you’re done! That was fun, right?! Next time we’ll go finding your BIG goal for 2015!

You can now get the 5 Step Plan as a PDF! Hurrah! Just click here!

PS This is part of a series I’m doing about crafting a super-simple plan for your business! If you don’t want to miss the next one you can get it in our weekly FREE Snacks email!

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