November 2007 NAWBO newsletter

President's Column
By Celeste Friend

Hello Ladies,

Well, if you are like me, you are reviewing the successful and not-so-successful events and activities of your life in of 2007and considering what adjustments you should or could make for 2008. Below, I have pasted the top New Year’s resolutions – both business and personal - that may be helpful to you. The thing I always have to keep in mind is that any minute of any day can be the new beginning I need. I wish you every success in 2008.

Top Five New Year's Resolutions for Small Business Owners in 2008 --(Business Wire)
As another year comes to a close, looming resolutions from last year may still be hanging over your head. New exercise routine? Check. Healthier diet? Check (for the most part). A super-charged small business that's maximizing revenues? I know I was supposed to change a few things up...but... "Those 'shoulda, coulda, woulda' business goals are attainable for every small business owner in 2008," says Ridgely Evers, CEO and founder of NetBooks (http://netbooks.com). "By doing these five things, you can ensure success and avoid disaster." As a financial software expert, small business owner and CEO of several technology start-ups, Evers' has refined a tried-and-true game plan for revolutionizing a small business:
1. Define your success. It's different for everyone. What's your measure of success? Define realistic and measurable goals, and communicate them to your employees. Put goals up in the lunch room where everyone will see them on a daily basis, and track progress against them. Give out rewards when they're met.
2. Understand and fix the sources of error. Pinpoint the errors that seem to keep happening, requiring everyone to run around and fix them. Cleaning up messes prevents employees from focusing on their jobs. Figure out what is causing the error, and fix it. Address one at a time, and when you're finished with the most common one, move on to the next one. Your profit margins will thank you.
3. Make your data safe, and have a back-up plan. "Everyone knows they should do something about this, but assumes they'll get away with it. Bottom line: your luck will run out sooner or later," says Evers. "And catastrophic data loss is a leading cause of failure for small businesses -- no need to risk it." Right now, your data is probably on a hard drive that will crash or get overwritten accidentally, and there isn't a current back-up in place. Keeping all pertinent data in a web-based system like NetBooks gives small business owners a reliable system for storing data securely...and is accessible from any computer. No more worrying about the life expectancy of your PC.
4. Create a marketing program and use it consistently. Marketing is crucial to growth and success. A marketing plan doesn't need to be complicated, but it needs to be executed consistently. The first step is to make sure you know who your customers are...and then figure out where they get their information and how to reach them. A great resource is "Duct Tape Marketing - The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide," by John Jantsch. Execute your plan.
5. Increase sales -- and start by raising prices. Most successful business owners focus their energies on growing revenues to the point where the business can stand up comfortably, and keeping them there. Cutting expenses never hurt, but success come from growth. "Growing sales should be a focus for you all year long, but the first part of the year is the best time to raise prices," says Evers. "And you can reinvest added revenue into making sure this coming year is the most successful your business has ever had."

Top 10 New Year's Resolutions - Personal From Kimberly & Albrecht Powell
New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. Did your New Year resolutions make our top ten list?
1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends - Recent polls conducted by General Nutrition Centers, Quicken, and others shows that more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year. Work shouldn't always come first!
2. Fit in Fitness - The evidence is in for fitness. Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better. Why not make this the time to start getting in shape?
3. Tame the Bulge - Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese by recent studies, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and the key to success for those millions of Americans who made a New Year's commitment to shed extra pounds.
4. Quit Smoking - If you have resolved to make this the year that you stamp out your smoking habit, over-the-counter availability of nicotine replacement therapy now provides easier access to proven quit-smoking aids. Even if you've tried to quit before and failed, don't let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good. Start enjoying the rest of your smoke-free life!
5. Enjoy Life More - Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that "enjoying life more" has become a popular resolution in recent years. It's an important step to a happier and healthier you! Consider products designed to bring balance to your body, mind and soul. Or just get out and try something new! Take up a new hobby or try your hand at skiing. Go to a theater performance, or head to the local spa.
6. Quit Drinking - While many people use the New Year as an incentive to finally stop drinking, most are not equipped to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once. Many heavy drinkers fail to quit cold turkey but do much better when they taper gradually, or even learn to moderate their drinking. If you have decided that you want to stop drinking, there is a world of help and support available.
7. Get Out of Debt - Was money a big source of stress in your life last year? Join the millions of Americans who have resolved to spend this year getting a handle on their finances. It's a promise that will repay itself many times over in the year ahead.
8. Learn Something New - Have you vowed to make this year the year to learn something new? Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, or just how to fix your computer? Whether you take a course or read a book, you'll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating New Year's resolutions to keep. Most local colleges and universities offer distance and adult education programs as well as a wide variety of "lifelong learning" courses.
9. Help Others - A popular, non-selfish New Year's resolution, volunteerism can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or building a house, there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could really use your help. Or if your time is really in short supply, maybe you can at least find it in you to donate the furniture, clothing and other household items that you no longer need, rather than leaving them out by the curb to fill up our landfills.
10. Get Organized - On just about every New Year resolution top ten list, organization can be a very reasonable goal. Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim, or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it, these tips and resources should get you started on the way to a more organized life.