The Brochure Blog

Perhaps revamping your corporate branding is high on your list of New Year’s Resolutions. It could be that your business cards and company brochures may need to be brought up to date to show off your new logo and employees. Since Thanksgiving, our clients have been dusting off the old and commissioning the new, updating their corporate brochure packages with fresh, new graphic design to introduce a new product line, showcase at their 2008 trade shows, and distribute to prospects, storefronts and sales staff. It’s a new year and naturally our thoughts turn to starting anew, updating those print materials, cleaning out the office, and cracking open the new planner. Then it’s time to go further and begin asking ourselves a few questions.

For most, the basic questions are the easiest to answer. What were your biggest successes? What challenged you the most? Was business more or less profitable? What will you do this year to take your company to the next level? Successful small business owners know that the basic questions are important to ask and answer throughout the year. The most successful small business owners however, take this opportunity not only to review the basics, but also to dig deeper into their business beliefs, core entrepreneurial values, self-dialogue, and subconscious motivations. Consider these three ways to get to the core of your business success.

1. First, take a look at the goals you accomplished last year. After giving yourself a pat on the back, evaluate those goals and how you managed to tackle them. Consider what it was about those goals that made them doable. Which tasks were most easily completed? Did you hire professionals and other key people to facilitate your goal? Did you reach a crisis point that rendered you unable to ignore a sensitive issue any longer?
2. Next, give careful consideration to those things that hindered your personal as well as professional growth last year. Were your expectations reasonable and based on sound business principles? Were they communicated clearly to those who most needed to know? Did your personal life suffer for the sake of your business? Did you make a thorough plan, only to falter in its execution?
3. Finally, resolve to duplicate (and expand on) the things that worked and give up (and replace) the things that did not. Being keenly aware of the reasons behind your achievements will help you set yourself up for further success. Determine what most gets in your way and put systems in place that will help you handle those issues effectively. Do you lose focus halfway through the day? Are you more likely to stay on track when you plan your day the evening before? Is indecision keeping you from moving forward? Something as simple as a flow chart or decision tree can facilitate the decision making process.

As an entrepreneur, you already know there is no shortcut to success. But going below the surface is a skill that could easily save you some time, and some heartache. Learning what drives you — or derails you — is knowledge you cannot afford to ignore.

Below are other helpful articles to help you position your business for success in 2008.

• New Year Resolutions for Small Businesses
• Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Business Success
• New Year, New Payroll
• Three Entrepreneur Resolutions for 2008

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