The 8 Best Resolutions for Entrepreneurs

 

2015 is almost here. Now is the time for setting goals and resolutions — to think about the past year and devise a plan for future success. But what are the best resolutions for those who set goals and reflect on past successes and failure every single day?

Well, it turns out the best resolutions for entrepreneurs aren’t easy. They’re often heartfelt and difficult — and you need to be emotionally invested in them to work. Need ideas for resolutions of your own? Here are a few to get you started:

1.    Don’t try to do it all. Build your team with talented people and delegate tasks appropriately. This way, you can accomplish more without wearing yourself out.

2.    Celebrate small successes and milestones. Progress is significant and celebrating it helps everyone stay motivated and feel recognized.

3.    Build your brand. Create a strategy for getting your name out there and use promotional products to help you build brand awareness, reach, and recall.

4.    Give yourself more time to think. Separate yourself from the daily tasks, so you can focus more time on the big-picture thinking your company needs.

5. Say goodbye to problem customers. If they’re preventing you from providing better service to more valuable customers, consider cutting them loose.

6. Help your community.  Find a cause you care about and partner with them to do something special. Doing good feels good and it can help you create goodwill around your company name and brand.

7. Educate yourself.  Go to the seminar you’ve always wanted to attend or set up some training sessions for your staff.  Not only is it fun, it can help you stay relevant in your marketplace.

8. Be more productive.  Change up your routine, do the hard stuff first, eliminate distractions and just get it done. This is your year to do it.

People set goals all the time, but over 70% never get carried out. Don’t let this happen to you. Choose your resolution, break it down into milestones, and set your timeframe for achievement. 2015 is waiting for you…may success be yours.

Winter Gift Ideas for B2B Brands

The beginning of a new year is a great time for B2B brands look ahead to the future and to thank their partners, clients and vendors for helping them get where they are. But coming up with winter gift ideas to express your gratitude can be challenging — especially if you want to stand out from the crowd. Here are a few ways to help you be memorable:

Make It Personal

It may be hard to believe in this technology-driven world, but people still appreciate a thoughtful handwritten card. Sending a card to your clients with a personal note inside is a simple, yet memorable, way to show your clients that you are thinking of them.

Do Some Good

Sometimes it really is better to give than to receive. Show your partners, vendors or clients how much you care by making a donation to a charity of their choice. It’s a gift you can both feel good about — and one that will never go to waste.

Go Beyond the Gift Card

Think of the standard gift card as a blank canvas — something that you can add to and accessorize.  Giving away a spa gift card?  Include a goodie bag of spa essentials to up your gift-giving game.

Think: Hobbies

Does your client like to spend time in the kitchen or on the golf course?  Add some custom touches to some cooking accessories or a golf kit — like a printed logo or embroidered initials.

No matter which one you choose, these winter gift ideas can help you say “thank you” in an  original and unexpected way and help you build relationships with the clients you value most.

What’s your favorite way to say “thank you?”