How to get ahead in your solo biz in 2019

I am so excited to be kicking things off after a beautiful few months away from my business (you can check out what I’ve been up to here).

While I know it’s not for everyone, the start of the new year is one of my favourite times, because as the clocks hit midnight, I truly do get that burst of energy and excitement for the opportunities that lie ahead.

But opportunities in and of themselves are pretty useless, unless we learn to recognise them, believe that we are capable and worthy of pursuing them, and take consistent action to make the most of them when they do present themselves.

So today I wanted to share with you some tips for making the most of these brand new 12 months, so that when looking back on this year, you can be filled with gratitude to your “past self”, who decided to persevere towards the vision she had when this new year began…

We all know that consistency is the key to making steady progress. But to work consistently on your business, you’ve got to create the time and space to do so, and while it doesn’t matter how much time or space you have or can invest in your projects, it is important that you dedicate a portion of your resources towards achieving your goals.

And to do this, you must organise yourself – declutter if you need to; identify, allocate, prioritise, and protect your time dedicated to your goal; and create a routine that will help you find your groove and become consistent in what you’re doing.

#2. Focus

Focus on one or two strategic projects at a time that will move your business forward, and see them through to completion before moving on to other projects. The number one trap I see women find themselves in, is that we spread ourselves too thin across all life domains – career, family, friends, household, health, etc. We are used to multitasking in our lives, so when it comes to our businesses, we attempt to multitask there too, and inevitably become overwhelmed.

For instance, you might only have an hour a day or a few hours a week to focus on your business (or the things you’d like to accomplish in your business), so instead of trying to do multiple things at once, break your big projects into chunks small enough that you can realistically complete them with the time and mental energy you have. It is the sense of accomplishment that comes from finishing something that will propel you forwards. 

#3. Discipline

When I ran my business planner giveaway, so many of you wrote to me, saying that one of your biggest challenges in achieving your business goals was embracing that your business is a legitimate undertaking that deserves your attention, time, and resources. It was as if you didn’t feel justified in spending time on your business because, for once, there was no one else telling you that you should (or that you must!).

I know what that’s like so well! We all have friends, family, colleagues, or partners who don’t see what we see, and don’t necessarily understand what it takes to get where we want to be. But that is OK! You might like to reflect on this mindset cycle to unpack what drives you to feel this way, but this e-mail is all about behaviour, so my tip is to simply start behaving “as if” the time spent building your business is non-negotiable.

Discipline yourself and those around you that on certain days or at certain times you will be working on your business, even if you are wearing your nightgown doing it. Remember, you are realising your dream – be accountable to it!

And if you’d love to start the year with an in-depth look at precisely how you will elevate your mindset, habits, strategy, and results, you can book in for my signature Audit + Strategy Session here.