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July 2024
Celebrate, Savor and Plan
There are three things to do in July: celebrate, savor and plan for the future. It’s difficult to do all of it in one month. July is scary because we are already halfway through the year. The reason to try is that successful people are abler to telescope in and out of the present, future and the past. While we need to be mindful in the present, it is necessary to learn from our past and use what we’ve learned to design a bright future. You might be discouraged that 2024 hasn’t gone as well as you’d hoped. There is still time for a turn around.
How is 2024 going for you so far?
July is a dangerous month. We are reminded of how carefree we were as a child. We swam in our pond every day. I loved every minute of those days. There were no worries about money or work and we didn’t even care that the pond was full of snakes, fish and turtles. Parents strive to give their children a fun-filled, memorable summer. It’s easy to lapse into a childlike frame of mind that summer will go on forever and forget about our responsibilities. As a business coach, I’ve noticed that a lot of adults check out during July. We start July with the frenzy if the 4th of July celebrations, then everyone seems to go on a vacation.
Are you on vacation?
Since all of this is going to happen anyway, it’s better to plan for it and embrace the season. The lesson for me and many of my business clients is that it’s prudent to plan on making most of your money before the 4th of July and before Christmas, unless you are in the fireworks or toy business. If you want to enjoy July with a clear conscience, it is good to set an afternoon aside to work on your business plan. Hopefully, you’ve set goals for the year. See if you are hitting your numbers. If you are behind or want to increase your revenue, draw up a blueprint for a strong second half of the year. Determine how much money you will need to make each month to stay on track. The next step is to identify all the action steps you need to reach your goal. By action steps, I mean activities such as sales calls, trade shows, media posts, service calls etc.
What are your action steps for the second half of 2024?
The next task is to do what we call creative brainstorming. Set up a meeting with a colleague or business coach. Encourage each other to think outside the box and come up with some new ideas. In BNI (Business Network International), we meet with other business owners either in one-to-one meetings or what we call Power Team Meetings. Power Teams are owners in related fields who share a similar client list such as the housing trades. I’m in a Business-to-Business Power Team with other professionals like bookkeepers, accountants, and financial planners. We exchange marketing ideas and referrals. I’ll give you an example of some new things I did as a result of these meetings. I set up Facebook pages and ran newspaper ads for my stable and vacation rental. I didn’t know that these were good ideas because I moved from an area that did not utilize these media for these industries. However, I discovered that this was a good approach for these businesses at this time in this locale.
What approaches are you missing out on?
Generate as many action steps as possible and set dates for their completion. If you were discouraged because you had a bad first half of the year, this will empower you. I always feel reenergized when I have a new action step to move me forward. Delegate steps to employees or contract workers if possible. Quantify what you will do. For example, commit to so many sales calls a day, how many networking meetings to attend each month, and anything else appropriate for your industry. Think back to the past and remember effective strategies you may have used but let slip through the cracks. It’s important to savor your successes. Give yourself a reward. Savor as you reminisce about past successes and savor how proud you’ll feel when you cross the finish line in December with strong profits.
What successful move have you forgotten about?
Now that you have a robust plan, you can celebrate July with a clear conscience. In fact, it may be wise to do more in July and plan less in December. Don’t wait to have a party, plan a reunion, or vacation with friends and relatives. Reminisce about times you had in July while you were a child. There are times you should not worry about business and just be in the here and now. It’s a way to recharge yourself to live the rest of the year well.
What special occasions have you planned for July?
My BNI colleagues, Robert and Keira Mitchell, are a perfect example of what I’m talking about. Robert and Keira have learned the wisdom of knowing when to work and when to play. Robert owns Kwik Dry, a restoration company, and Keira owns Kwik Sell Realty. These are industries where your work load may vacillate wildly. Robert and Keira plan carefully for the future and are the best people in the world to brainstorm with. They plan their personal life as scrupulously as they do their business plans; often hosting a myriad of family celebrations including a summer Cousin Camp! It was their wisdom that lead our BNI group to plan a Summer and Fall social instead of trying to have an event in an already crowded, overscheduled December. If you want inspiration, schedule a one-to-one with Robert (417-812-4131) or Keira (417-838-6468) and get tips on effective planning for both your business and personal life.
Transport yourself to a magical planning space at my Vacation Rental in Buffalo, Missouri. Bring along a colleague or friend and intersperse relaxation with planning for your strong finish in 2024.
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