Q4 Tasks

The last three months of the year are quickly approaching, and they present a great opportunity to finish strong, look back and the year’s performance, and look forward and establish business priorities for the coming year.

Finish Strong

You still have three months to wrap up the year strong. Continue your business development efforts. Complete end of year marketing activities, including acknowledging and thanking existing customers and clients. Preview any new products, services, or initiatives for the upcoming year.

Just as important, don’t forget to set aside time to rest, reflect and spend time with loved ones. The slower pace towards the end of the year naturally lends itself to that.

Look Back

What worked this year? Did you marketing campaign generate new leads? Did your business development efforts generate new business opportunities? Did your efforts to improve your processes lead to more efficient operations? Did you increase your revenue? Did you increase your profits?

Look Ahead

Consider what went well during the year and whether it makes financial sense to continue those efforts in the coming year. What do you want to do differently? Do you want to place greater focus on business development? Do you want to work with a coach to help you establish a more strategic approach to business development? Do you need to hire and for what roles? What are your growth targets for the coming year? What roadblocks do you anticipate needing to address to achieve those targets? Do you have new clients you want to secure? How will you accomplish the business priorities you set for your company? Write down the core tasks necessary to achieve each priority, and assign those tasks to a function (i.e., operations, marketing, finance, etc.).

Help Someone New

If you are celebrating a new year in business, look for someone more junior to support on their journey to celebrate their first year in business. Offer to answer questions. Where you can connect them to business generating opportunities, aim to do so.

Finally, enjoy the journey. With each year, don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments with your team.

Here’s to more business birthdays!