Do Your Daily To Dos Support A Larger Goal?

As 2011 comes to a close and we begin winding down for the holidays, I have to reflect a bit on what’s happened to my business over the past year.  I’ve always been a big believer in making everything a learning experience.  2011 was definitely a learning experience!

Business grew tremendously! My client base doubled and I began working with several new virtual solutions providers (VAs, web designers, an SEO team, etc).  Growth can be painful and at times 2011 has been exactly that.  The good news is that it’s also been great!  My virtual providers are wonderful!   I’ve worked with some of these ladies for many years and I take great joy and pride in being able to help them provide a better life for themselves and their families.  I’m working with some wonderful clients as well!  They have great products and services that I honestly believe in and I feel passionate about helping them grow their businesses!

In short, it’s been a good year and  I’m pleased with all that we’ve accomplished!

I believe it’s essential that entrepreneurs truly look at themselves and their businesses from a distance periodically and make a conscious decision to work ON their business instead of IN their business.  That time has come for me.  As good as 2011 was, I recognize that I need to make a few changes in 2012 if I want to keep moving forward.

Recently, a new client brought a fabulous project to my door.  Her name is Allyson Lewis and she’s written a new book called The 7 Minute Solution: Creating a Life With Meaning 7 Minutes at a Time.  This book is about more than how to keep a clean desk or how to organize your office.  The 7 Minute Solution is a wonderful book that offers solutions for a better life.  You can learn more by following @The7MinuteLife on Twitter.  One of the first exercises in the book asks you to look at a list of foundational value words  like success, family, faith, achievement, etc and determine which ones are most important to you.  You actually sit down and choose the 10 things that are most important in your life!  No pressure, right? 

As I sat down and began this exercise, I realized that I had been running so fast for so long that I wasn’t truly focusing on the things that meant the most to me.  I was simply reacting most of the time.  I always knew what was important in my life but until I actually had to think about it and write it down, I hadn’t really been fully focused on doing the daily tasks that would bring me closer to the things that mattered most.  In The 7 Minute Solution, Allyson reminds us that when we don’t know what’s important, it’s easy to believe that everything is.  She was right.

As I move into 2012 I now believe I have a clearer understanding of exactly what I want.  I now have a list taped to my desk of the things that matter most to me in life.  I intend to look at it as often as I do my daily To Do list.  Those To Do lists certainly work but they only truly work to your advantage if they support a larger goal.  In 2012 I’ll be working with a larger goal in mind.

In 2012 I’ll be building a new website that will meet my needs more fully and I’ll begin creating training products to enhance (and at time replace) the individual hands on training I’ve done for so long with so many people.  I’ll also be bringing  in a new assistant to help me handle the tasks that to date only I could do.  I’ll be scheduling specific days to create content and letting an assistant handle emails on those days, even when I’m around.  Basically I intend to make myself replaceable in 2012.

I believe in making sure that all of my clients receive 110% from me.  In order to do this I recognize that I can no longer work in my business every day.  In order to move forward I recognize I need to work smarter, get some rest and allow myself some breathing room to grow.  The extra time this gives me will ensure that each of my clients continue to receive the quality attention they need when they need it.

In addition, the extra time gives me time for me.  My family time, personal time and spiritual time are the most important things in my life.  In 2012 I’ll be working to support these goals as well.  A smarter worklife means more quality time at work and more quality time at home.  It might even mean a bit of extra time just for me! 

Are you taking some time to work on your business? I’d love to hear what you’re all doing!!   Leave me a comment and let me know how you intend to make 2012 a better year for you!