We're 2 weeks away from a New Year and as tradition states, it is time to start making those New Years resolutions. As entrepreneurs, startups, and business with record it is important to think about how you can plan for the year. Below are some ideas to help you start your list.

Overcome Challenges

Before you can set new goals, it is important to start thinking of what is keeping you from hitting the goals you have, or what is keeping you from making new goals. 

For example, is your website not converting enough traffic into leads? is your sales team not closing? are you struggling to keep up with your current work but you can’t afford to hire new employees?

You may want to try a market optimized site, throwing away that sales script, hiring an intern to complete simple time consuming tasks (respectively).

Setting New Goals

One of the hardest things to do in business is to set long term goals that are profitable, accomplishable, and that compliment your current business operations. Take time in considering what you should look to do this coming year. Here are some goals to ponder.

• Hire additional staff (how much runway do you have, will sales also be increasing to cover their salary?)
• Meet more business contacts (start forming that convention and meet up list, some events for 2014 are already sold out)
• Create a new product or service (can you add this without significant liability?)

Always remember to do a bit of risk management before setting goals. Often times we jump into ideas too fast and can’t change our minds before it's too late.

What Goals Have I Set?

During 2014 I hope to help my business grow by doing the following.

• Meet more business owners, regardless of their intention to buy a product. New relationships always lead to more knowledge or sales.
• Increase our market visibility. We want to start becoming a name that Coloradans know.
• Increase our craft specific clientele. We want to be known for offering design to craft/boutique clients.  
• Continue to give back to the community and other businesses. We want to be known as a charitable business. Specifically we would like to give back to the youth.

What’s Your 2014 Resolution? Comment Below.