...How do you make your resolution a reality?

Tis the season … for resolutions.  Many of us make them and many of us abandon them by the end of January.   How do you keep working on a resolution?  Here are several ideas that might help you achieve the resolutions you set. 

1.  Make it something you really want.  We all want things but the question is – how badly do you want this?  Is this something that will make you more successful, make you more money? How important is this to you?

2.  Be specific- this one sounds simple enough but sometimes when we aren’t very specific when we decide to accomplish a goal.  It helps if you make a plan to go along with the resolution.  This helps break it down into steps that you can follow. 

3.  Make notes. I have found that when dieting (yes it will be on my list for this year again!) if I keep a food diary I understand what I’ve eaten that day and what I can have without messing up my diet.  You become more aware of what you are doing when you focus on it by writing. 

4.  Look for support.  Whatever you are trying to achieve it never hurts to have someone in your corner cheering you on. It helps on those days when you just don’t feel like you want to stay on track. 

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Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

Taking Stock

As we enter a new year, I find myself taking stock of the previous one.  It’s time to look at what I’ve accomplished, what I didn’t get done and look ahead to what I want to do in the New Year.  I think it’s important to list the accomplishments you’ve had, looking at what you’ve done. We get so busy during the year that it’s hard for us to really celebrate what we’ve done in the moment. 

Taking time to look at all the hard work you’ve put into your job or you home life helps you to understand where the year has gone and what you have to show for it.  It’s also a time to look at what I didn’t accomplish last year and what I either want to let go or put back on my list for this year. Sometimes we have a lot we want to accomplish either written down or in our heads. 

So what did you do last year? Do you have things you are really proud of- things you wish you’d gotten around to doing and things that really didn’t matter as much as you thought they did?

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Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

…Oh Business Plan, Oh Business Plan

If you have a business plan, when was the last time you actually sat down and read through it?  When was the last time you looked at the plan and compared it to what you are doing in your business?  Is this where you meant to be compared to the plan?  It’s a hard task to write a business plan and sometimes when people finished such a large project they want to take a break from looking at it.  That’s all good, except a break means that eventually you get back to the plan. 

The plan helps keep you on track. Have you gotten off track- is the place you ended up the place where you wanted to be?   The plan only works if you follow it and work to make it yours.  Sometimes the plan has to be updated with new information.  Things change daily in business and that means that your business plan should change over time.  

It’s important as you begin the New Year to look at your plan and decide what needs to be updated, what you need to take out because it no longer fits or because you have completed the task.  Also, look at the direction the plan has you going.  Is it the same direction your company needs to be going in the New Year?   Sit back and read the plan you worked so hard to complete, you may be re-energized for the coming year. 

Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

…List Maker

My husband always laughs at my lists- he always asks if I have a list of all my lists.  Well….. almost.  I am a very detailed oriented person and frankly find that if I don’t write things down I just don’t remember them. And no, this isn’t age related- I’ve always been like this.  

For me, keeping lists helps me understand what I’ve gotten done and what I have yet to accomplish. I love the feeling of marking things off a list and the feeling of looking at the list with lines through every single thing on the list. 

How do you keep track of your things to do? Some people like the online version of list making, one is called Workflowy.  I tried that one but found that I didn’t like logging on all the time when something popped in my head. I like the good old fashioned piece of paper.  Usually it’s several sheets of scrap paper with lists on it- anything from the things I need to get done at work to the store list to the list of things to do at home. 

How do you stay organized?  Do you have the tools you need to keep yourself and your business organized?  As we begin the New Year, it’s a great time to consider how you stay (or get organized) and how to make the best use of your time and talents.  

Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

…the Buck Stops Here

As a boss are you one of those people who blame every mistake on anyone but yourself? Or do you take responsibility and handle the issue?  Many times, bosses do one of two very bad things.  They blame every mistake on someone else or they take all the credit when a team effort produced a result. 

These types of behaviors make for a very poor work environment.  People have a hard time respecting bosses who have no ability to admit a mistake or who blame everyone else.  They know that no matter what they do, good or bad they will get the blame or no credit.  

As a boss, you should listen to what you are actually saying to people- especially at times when things may not be going right.  Your staff may be doing their best and deserve that recognition.  Sometimes the mistake may be yours and you should own up to it when that happens. All of us make mistakes but not all of us make mistakes all of the time.  So give credit where credit is due and let the buck stop with you- after all you are the boss. 

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Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter