It’s the end of the year, whether we like it or not. Is your milspouse business ready for 2022?
There are plenty of ways to look to the next year and prepare for what may come. Part of this is also reflecting on the current year, too. What did you learn? What things will you be taking with you, and what will you be happy to leave behind?
Hopefully, you have been preparing your business and yourself for 2022 but if you have not, here are a few things you can do to reflect on the past year and embrace the year to come.
Reflecting on This Year
Consult the past.
First, I like to consult my planner for the year. Even though I utilize online planning tools and calendars, I still like to keep a paper planner. Why? It is where I jot down all my notes, thoughts, and ideas. I make mini-checklists for projects and short-term goals, and I find a lot of value in looking back at what was important to me during the year.
Consult your books.
Next, I take a look at our financial books. Money does drive business, and it is vital to evaluate the past year before moving into the next. You should ideally start this earlier than the last week of December (my sweet spot is early November). I start by taking a look over the profit and loss sheet to see what revenue streams were successful or not, and it helps determine where our strengths and weaknesses are. I also use this to guide our projected budget and plans for the next year, as our profitable areas should continue!
Take a deep dive and reflect on the year.
Finally, I reflect with my business partner on the year. We have a long meeting where we highlight the successes and things we would like to continue in the future while also acknowledging what didn’t work or bring us value. We have an honest conversation about our workloads, physical/mental health, and our personal goals for the business. We use all these answers to draw up plans and goals for the next year.
Preparing for the Next Year
I touched on some of this in the steps above because it’s natural for you to create goals and plans while reflecting on the past. I did some research for you, and there are a few more ideas for how to start your new year on the best foot.
Map out your goals.
Your goals and priorities for the new year? They need to be planned out. What areas of your business are you making the highest priority? What steps will you take to achieve your goals? Make plans, set deadlines, and find a way to hold yourself accountable. For example, my business partner and I have a goal to increase our profits by at least 30%. We will achieve this by hiring assistance to help us pitch new partners, trimming down our current programs and monthly utilities, and leveraging our earned PR and current partners to help us reach more people. Whatever your goals are, make a plan to help you achieve them!
Consider your financing options.
Whether you were profitable or not, everyone could use more funding for their business. The pandemic is still affecting small businesses, and there are tons of opportunities for grants and relief. If you are looking to start pitching or looking for investors, get your pitch decks and documents together. There are masterclass replays and downloads available on the AMSE Member Dashboard to get you started or to help you refine your current materials.
Review your policies and contracts.
There is never a better time to audit your own paperwork than the new year. Do you have contracts that are renewing or expiring? When was the last time you updated your SOPs or workplace policies? Make a commitment to evaluate these and any other files you have been neglecting. Take those lessons learned with you as you approach your policies and practices.
No matter how you choose to reflect and prepare for the year ahead, I wish you success and the best of luck. With some planning and consideration, I know that you can reach anything you aspire to.
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Rachel is the co-owner and editor of The Military Mom Collective. She has been an Air Force spouse for 18 years and is a mother of four children. She holds a BA in English and a MA in Management. When not busy with work or her family, she enjoys reading as many books as possible and drinking all the coffee.
Rachel is also the Copy Editor at AMSE and a freelance writer. She has been featured on We Are The Mighty, Her View From Home, AMSE, PCSgrades, The Beautifull Project, Hand-in-Hand QC, and other publications. She has been blogging for herself and other organizations for over 10 years. She is always trying to stay on top of SEO practices and loves using the power of experiences and storytelling to empower businesses and individuals.
