As we come to another year, it’s super important that we find time to sit back and reflect on the year that was.

What worked, what didn’t work, what we want to continue doing in 2020 and what we want to say goodbye too.

I’ve had some time to do some reflecting and I wanted to share with you 5 things that I am going to do differently in 2020, which might inspire or enlighten something in you. 

As small business owners we don’t spend enough time looking back.  We are always looking forward – what’s next, where do I want to take the business and how do I get there.

Having goals and looking forward, strategically planning on how you will achieve them – all awesome things.  Never not do them – always be stretching and learning and be forward thinking, but there’s definitely merit in looking back.

If you think of it as the amount of time you spend looking in the revision mirror of your car.  You don’t do it often, but if you’re anything like me, you won’t get anywhere if you didn’t do it at least 30 seconds a day.

I really encourage you to take time to reflect.  If you’re listening to this when it goes live, mid-December, then section out some time in the next 4 weeks to reflect – or if you’re listening to this episode later – still book in some time in your diary to reflect.

Ask yourself

1. What worked?
2. What didn’t work?
3. What’s next?

Having had some time to reflect on perhaps things I’d like to do better in my business next year, I thought I’d share some of them to inspire you to perhaps do them with me (and we can check in this time next year!) or be inspired to think of your own 5 things you’d like to do better in 2020.

So, here goes::

1. ASK – just ask. Reach out and ask for what I want.

This has been a HUGE lesson for me in 2019 – feeling like I’m not down the road enough, not a big enough brand, not important enough, that I couldn’t ask people to be guests on my podcast, that I couldn’t ask someone to think about doing a collaboration with me and so on.

Of all the people I’ve reached out to in 2019 – one person said that they were sorry and didn’t have time.  ONE person and you know what, the world didn’t end!  I was totally ok with that and frankly, I’ll try again because I would love to have an hour with this person to give you a freaking awesome piece of learning on the podcast.

So, watch out if you’re on my target list for 2020, because I’ll be asking and I don’t care how unimportant I think I am, I will still be asking, because NO, just means not right now ….

2. NETWORKING – this is a massive priority for me in 2020.

Encouraged by my beautiful new business buddy Kellie Briggs, who has the Business Networking by Design podcast and who was my guest on episode 44, I want to do more networking in 2020.

www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/44

But for many reasons, some of which are

• Brand building, getting my name and business out there to a wider audience
• Because it gets lonely sometimes working in an industry that none of friends, business or not, are in
• Because I love to hear people’s stories. People are so fascinating – the stories of how they got to where they are or do to what they do, worth 200 novels sometimes.

There’s lots more reasons – but they are just a few.

What would your business look like if you did more networking next year?  What would your network look like if you got outside your comfort zone and networked?

And to show you how serious I am about this networking thing, I am considering starting my own, Women in Business network, for my area (which is North East Victoria and Southern Riverina).  I’ll keep you posted!

3. MORE MEDIA PR

I currently write for 2 quarterly magazines and blog for them too occasionally – although I must admit that doing a podcast every week has taken up so much of my time that I would normally have dedicated to writing for other sources.

So, in 2020, I want to make this a bit more of priority.  Jules Brooke, of Handle Your Own PR, who was a guest on episode 14, is always saying how the media are screaming for good content.

And she also said to me the other day that before you publish a blog or a piece of content, put it out to the world first and get some free PR for it – she said “you’re creating awesome content already, just change the order in which you publish it”. 

Great advice and hence has sparked a fire of ensuring I do more media in 2020.

It’s great for building credibility, becoming known as the expert in your field and branding – among other pros!

Is this something you’d like to do too?  Listen back to episode 14 and hear Jules’ fabulous tips and tricks.  www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/14

4. I’m a little scared to admit number 4 – but heck I can’t see your face when I say it, so it will be ok! Number one might be reach out and ask when it comes to building business relationships, but number 4 is reach out and ask for HELP.

If you’re a wee little, never admit it, zip my mouth as I say it, control freak – you will understand why this one is hard for me.

I need help.  There’s projects I want to do, there’s ideas I have swimming around in my head and frankly, I might not know exactly what they look like right now, but I do know that I CANNOT pull them off by myself.

So, in 2020, I will be asking for help.  Heck, I’ve said it on the podcast so there’s a few thousand listeners who will now keep me accountable. (For which I will thank you immensely I’m sure!)

5. Take time for me.

Number 5 is also a little about me.  I need to take more time for me and my growing so very fast family.  In 2020 I will have a son in 3^rd year uni, a year 12 and a year 11 student – mind explosion!  How the heck did my kids get this old, I’m sure I’m still 30 … right …..

My farming hubby works harder than most people on the planet, so I need to drag him kicking and screaming from the farm to have a rest more often.

I need to wake up earlier and keep my walking dates with bestie Christine – we keep each other walking accountable!

So that’s my 5 – what are yours?

What was missing in your business or what didn’t you get around too in 2019, in 365 days that you would like to achieve in 2020 because it will have an impact on you or your business?

Oh, and the good news is, 2020 is a leap year – so we get an extra day to fit it all in! YAY!

So, again, spend some time reflecting back on 2019, start setting some goals for 2020 by asking yourself, what worked, what didn’t and what’s next.

If you’re not a member of Like Minded Business Owners, simply head to Facebook, type in Like Minded Business Owners and join up.  Otherwise, there’s a link in the new notes at www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/podcast

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Love to hear all about the things you’d like to do better in 2020 in there.