Keeping the Focus

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Much has been written about the New Year's resolutions. The gyms are bustling with life; diet books, supplements and programs are flying off the shelves and "weight watcher" classes are overflowing. And as everybody promises to make it stick, we know from past experience that some resolutions will become unplugged and enthusiasm will be waning by the middle of February and by March most of them will be completely forgotten.

So, while everybody was compiling their resolutions and focusing on the things to do in 2009, I was putting together what I call my "I will not do" list. Why? 2009 will be unlike any year we have experienced. The deep recession, the lack of consumer spending and the lack of accessible credit will challenge all businesses. So, by adapting an "I will not do" list, I can constantly help me remember how to make the best of the challenging situation.

So here is my "I will not do" list:

Get complacent; now is not the time to hunker down and fade away. As leaders we have to come up with new products, ideas for new services and new value propositions to keep our customers engaged. Keeping their loyalty and staying connected with them is our #1 job!
Don't celebrate; yes, it is easy just to see the severe challenges. Therefore it is even more important that we stop and recognize small victories or extraordinary efforts. Have fun and celebrate and recognize those who over-deliver.
Count on anything before it is reality. Taking customers' loyalty, business connections or incoming orders for granted, would be fatal. Get out, be well prepared and help your customers, they are hurting, too.
Lose sight of the fact that I can replace my job, but not my family.

Perhaps you have started to compile your own list of things you will not do in 2009. If not, I would like to encourage you to get started. As with all goals and resolutions, you should not have more than 3-5 in order to keep them! More and we feel overwhelmed with different tasks and it is very likely that we will not accomplish any. If you are having too many and can't decide which ones are the most important, try this. Reverse the process and look what will have the least impact. Eliminating the least likely candidate(s) is for many easier than choosing the top one(s).

Good luck with your choices! Four or five resolutions combined with a heavy dose of resolve will help you get a better start into 2009.

© 2009 Copyrighted by Dr. Joe Mayer, Managing Partner of The Growth Coach, who helps owners grow their businesses by focusing on vision and strategy. Joe can be reached at J.Mayer@Thegrowthcoach.com; http://www.mayerbusinessgroup.com/