I Do These 3 Things Every January

Feb 4

Unlike any other creature on Earth, human beings get to create their own reality.

We do this by starting and finishing projects, whether we are starting a company, creating a family, or simply growing a garden.

This is the philosophy I live by, which is why, every year, I start my January with a vision for the next 364 days.

Having a strategic plan (even if planning isn't always your strongest suit) is crucial if you want your business to keep thriving.

Without an exact vision, you're just stumbling in the dark, hoping something works.

With an actionable plan, you're taking control of your business and guiding it to where you want it to be.

What's even better is that you don't need anything overly complicated to achieve this.

I myself only need to do three things every January to plan my business year, and lucky for you, I'm sharing them today!

Ready? Let's dive in!

[Image: 3 Things You Should Do Every January]

Everyone Needs a Strategic Plan

We all know how important it is to have a vision for our businesses and our lives. And although planning isn't for everyone, everyone does need an annual strategic plan!

As an ambitious working mom of three myself, I learned the hard way how important it is to have a strategic personal plan if I wanted a successful career without sacrificing the time spent with my family.

But with the strategic personal plan that I create at the beginning of each year, I can live my life with more work-life balance. After all, that’s what we should all be striving for.

How do I create my strategic plan? Keep reading to find out!

3 Things I Do Every January

There are three things I do every January that help me plan my business and my life. Getting started can be the hardest part but once that’s done, the rest comes easily!

Step #1: The Big Picture Vision

When people are confused about what they need to focus on, they waste time, and ultimately, money. With a clear big picture vision, there won't be any confusion about what you need to be working on this year or why.

A clearer big picture vision will ensure you find meaning and purpose in your work and your life. Through this, you'll be defining a clear direction for where your life is headed, and the path to get you there.

This is a simple and quick exercise that should take you about twenty minutes. You do it at the beginning of each year, and it’s all about envisioning your big picture ideas and motivations. No need to add the details or specifics like what you would find in the Early Childhood Business CEO Vision Planner.

I try to look at my big picture vision at least monthly. By doing that, I'm reminded of the things that matter most to me, and it helps me stay focused on creating the life I want. I especially pull it out when I'm facing a challenging obstacle or a difficult decision to make. I remind myself of what I want for this year, and it helps me steer clear of the things that won't get me there.

The exercise of creating a simple, big picture vision will help you gain confidence and clarity about your year ahead. And this is exactly why it’s worth spending a little time on it at the beginning of each year.

Your big picture vision directs your life in your business. It lifts the fog and makes you feel less confused. It ensures that relationships are nurtured and don't fall apart. It helps you be more productive on the things that matter. It helps you see when you should say no. And finally, it enables you to live the life of meaning and purpose you want.

Step #2: The Annual Vision Plan

The second key thing that I do every year is prepare my annual vision plan. Creating your annual vision plan for the new year will offer direction for your life and your business. It’ll also help you make decisions about where to spend your time, and who to spend it with.

Creating a vision plan for the year means listing out the goals and things you need to do. Those goals are going to help you direct your life and your business. They aren't the only things you're going to accomplish this year, but they will give you a great sense of clarity and purpose.

Step #3: Goal Setting

Now that you’ve finished your big picture vision and vision plan for the current year, you will move on to identifying what your key goals and priorities are. Those are the ones you really need to focus on during the year to make your vision come to life. And you can do that with goal setting.

The important thing after setting your goals is that you review them daily. This will give you the critical elements needed to achieve them.

If you’re not sure how you can do that, you’re in the right place. Here are eight steps you can follow to do just that:

Set your goal.
Reflect on why it matters to you.
Apply a deadline.
Name goal partners.
Break down the goal into milestones.
Identify the top priorities.
Decide how you will measure success.
Ask yourself “Who will be helped by this?”

I discuss all of this in more depth in the episode above, so make sure to give it a listen to learn more!

Resources

Be sure to get on our email list so we can send you more information about our Shine Membership for Early Childhood Business Owners/Managers that is now Open!

We give Early Childhood business owners/managers the operational strategies and tools they need to grow their profitable businesses with more joy, confidence, clarity, and less overwhelming.

You will learn how to spend less time on small details and daily tasks. You can spend more time doing the things you truly enjoy. Focusing on the things that really matter, your top priorities, your key relationships, your most important projects, all the things that will bring you more joy and your business more success.