As another year comes to a close, this is the time where we start to reflect on the past year. What went great. What didn’t go so great. Where we would like to improve. We then put together a plan or a set of resolutions on how next year will be different. Before you finalize your plans for world domination, I have one piece of advice, don’t ignore the core of your business.
What’s the core of your business? The core of your business consists of why you exist, where you are going and what your business values. You may know the core of your business by another set of terms: Mission, Vision and Values.
When it comes to planning effectively. You have to have clarity around your business. Why make a plan if you don’t know where you’re going? Why make a plan if you don’t know why you have a plan to begin with? These questions seem simple enough yet we ignore them frequently.
Here’s another way to look at the core of your business:
Vision- Vision is the eyes of your business. A proper vision allows you to see what’s coming and what’s next. It allows you to properly gauge trouble on the horizon and to see where it is that your business needs to go.
Mission- Your mission is the heart of your business. If your heart isn’t in it what keeps you fighting when things don’t go as planned which they often do. Why do underdogs win against better opponents? Heart. Their why is bigger. They want it more. Your why needs to give you power and keep you going. What do you stand for? What are you against?
Values- Values are the veins of your organization. They carry life sustaining elements to and from the heart. Values help you ensure that your mission isn’t compromised and that you stay on course with your vision. Values help all of the different aspects of your business run as they should.
If you have started putting together objectives for next year then your business is off to a good start. During the process take some time to revisit the core of your business. Why do you do what you do? Are the products and services that you offer that are out of alignment with that? Has the direction of your business changed? Make next year even more successful by making sure you ask some of these questions.
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