The Reflection is over and ramping up in the new year has begun. So what has all this reflection allowed for?
It has allowed me to disengage from my business in order to 'feel' what is important to me, and to clarify my direction. With so much information and 'noise' coming in, it is hard to distinguish what is of real value. Towards the end of last year I was feeling jarred with tweets, followers, who to follow, what to read, what to subscribe to, what I had subscribed to, and which of the myriad of "once ever only" offers were truly essential.
Reflection has allowed me to get back to basics by coming back to my business plan. Not just any business plan but one which is driven by my personal goals about how I want to live. The whole point of being in business as far as I am concerned is for it to give me control over my own destiny. (Ok, so there are other reasons also, but this is a driving force for me). If your business is not doing this, its time to reconsider what it is all about, or perhaps how you are going about it.
I have reaffirmed my desire for a very simple business structure, for diversified income streams, and to build my business in a way where systems and structures come first, so it can all be handed over easily, and where my personal presence will not be essential for the business to work. I have been much more detailed than this in my actual plan of course, and this has now allowed me to make some solid decisions. Here are a few...
1. Email lists - which to keep, which to ditch
If it does not fit with specific, actionable goals clearly stated on my business plan, I won't subscribe. I know how to find the information again when I need it. While ideally I would only use Google Reader to keep track of content, some excellent content only comes via an email opt in (from clever marketers who know the value of your email address).
2. Social Media
I now mainly have live push-type feeds switched off, but scan feeds regularly. I have affirmed my view that what I follow needs to be useful content and not just chit chat or blatant marketing, and I will un-follow a lot of people who don't provide the content which I need right now. For my own contributions, I intend to pass on others' excellent content as I find it, or my own content.
3. Utilize Google Reader a lot more
This takes the clutter out of my inbox, allows me to categorize my inputs, and quickly scan for what is useful at a time which suits me.
Here is an example of how this all works in practice. As I was writing this post, an affiliate application I had been waiting on for for some time came though in my email. I had included as part of my multiple income stream plan to develop the affiliate part of my business this year, so I will act on this straight away. Another email came through about a great workshop I would love to attend, but I deleted this because I have made a decision to APPLY what I have learnt this year without gaining more 'cutting edge, beat the market' type of input, as incredibly enticing as it is. Big tip - delete quickly!!
So what will you be doing differently? Has the holiday, reflective period created some insights or changes for you?
Resource: If you are unfamiliar with Google Reader, check out this 60 second grab. It will free up your time incredibly.
The end of the year brings about a perfect opportunity for the three R's - a great time to review your business and personal priorities.
Most people running a solo or small enterprise are doing so for a many reasons - from personal fulfilment in following a passion, to the freedom which making your own decisions on your own terms brings.
While the internet & technology can help in allowing being more freer and mobile within a business, it can also provide a multitude of distractions, possible opportunities and information which can set us either off course, or in a time wasting direction. So now is a good time to take stock.
My 3 R's start with reflection, as the holiday season provides the perfect opportunity just to stop for a little while.
Reflect
Reflection is quite a soft activity. It is less about setting aside time to reflect, and more about allowing reflection to happen by being less busy and being out of the normal routine. Catching up with family, spending social time with friends - all gives us time to see what has happened in others' lives, gain inspirations (or warnings!), and reassess our own views about what is important and how our year has been.
Simply allow the thoughts to present themselves, let them go, or capture them if you have any epiphanies (or just good ideas).
Review
After a period of reflection, you may feel you are ready to apply something a bit more active and conscious to your thoughts.
Have you felt that there are areas in your life and/or work which you have decided need readjustment? What goals or values are you reviewing against?
For example, it is important to me that my business supports my greater life goals and values. These are: contributing meaningfully to others, having a successful and multiple income stream which does not involve my physical presence, and having geographic mobility. All business opportunities, ideas and activities need to show they contribute to these goals in some way before I act on them.
When your goals are really clear, any opportunities and/or distractions can be easily assessed against this criteria. You need to be careful what you ask for as this is what you create. Do you want more work? Or do you want more income or freedom of lifestyle? The two are not the same and reviewing opportunities against your clearly identified goals allows for a very quick assessment.
Is it your goals and purpose which need to change or be clarified, or is it the way you are working towards them which need to change?
If you don't have clear goals and purpose - then this is really worth taking the time to do.
Re-Focus
Once my review is complete, I can then refocus. I find writing things down really helps - what do I need to start doing, what do I need to stop doing. It may be scary as perhaps I have invested time and energy in something which now needs to be dropped. But that is ok - it is essential to stop doing the things which no longer server my purposes, no matter how comfortable or automatic they are. What will they be?
I don't know yet, but I look forward to having the talk with myself.
What things are you going to stop or start so you are more aligned with your greater purpose?
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