10 Ways to Transform Your Business This Year

Do you want this year to be a more exciting, inspiring, and profitable year for your business than last year? If you want different results, you need to do things differently. Here are 10 effective ways to transform your business—and your life as a business owner.

1o steps to transform your business

1. Update your technology

There are great deals to be had on tech tools this time of year—why not take advantage of them for your business? Assess what technology would help you do business more effectively in the coming year, whether that's tablet computers or new small business software.

2. Get organized

Get a new start by cleaning out your office. Purging piles and files of paper will make you feel lighter and more focused. Try scanning and saving important documents in the cloud instead. In addition to saving space, cloud storage makes it be easy to access and share what you need, no matter where you are.

3. Learn something new

Learn something completely new, like how to use Instagram for marketing your business, or delve deeper into a subject you already know something about so you can become a real expert. There are dozens of ways to educate yourself these days, from online tutorials and courses to in-person workshops and conferences.

4. Get outside your comfort zone

Try doing something that truly challenges you, whether that's public speaking or skydiving. Yes, skydiving—stretching yourself in your personal life will translate to increased confidence in your business, too.

5. Broaden your connections

Reach out to someone you admire and invite them to coffee to pick their brain. Reach out to someone you want to do business with to share ideas about how you could work together. Create an advisory circle of other businesspeople and professionals and meet once a month to get advice and inspiration.

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6. Create a BHAG (big, hairy, audacious goal)

This year, don’t settle for just getting by—dream big. What's your wildest dream for your business? Write it down, then plan out how you could really achieve it. Even the biggest dreams can become reality when you break them down into small, manageable steps.

7. Raise your profile

As a small business owner, you are your own best marketing tool. Whether you're a B2B entrepreneur whose "community" consists of a particular industry, or a B2C entrepreneur whose community consists of your immediate area, get out there and make a name for yourself. A B2B entrepreneur can contribute to the community by speaking or chairing panels at conferences or contributing to others’ blogs. A B2C entrepreneur can contribute by sponsoring events or getting involved in local charities.

8. Share the burden

Small business owners have a tendency to take everything on themselves. But no one can “do it all” without burning out in the end. Think about what you can delegate, whether to employees or independent contractors, and do it. Let go of the small stuff so you can focus on what you enjoy doing and know you will excel at.

9. Take care of yourself

If you’re not healthy, your business will suffer. As a busy entrepreneur, taking care of yourself is easier said than done, but you can do it by making small changes. Get a little bit more sleep, eat a little more healthfully, and move your body a little bit every day.

10. Get a grip on your finances

Create sales and financial projections for your business for the coming year, and use them to assess whether you might need business financing. If you think you might, start investigating your options now. Check your business’s credit rating and take steps to improve it if necessary. Talk to your bank about what type of financing they offer, and look into alternative financing solutions if you need to.