As we move towards the end of the year and our thoughts turn to the holidays, it’s also a good time to do some de-cluttering and make plans for 2017.
Getting rid of the clutter in your life and business is not only refreshing; it’s also a productive and strategic task. When you spend some time cleaning, you’ll find your spirits renewed, the people you work with reinvigorated, and your operations ready to head into high-energy, profitable gear.
Here are three tips to help you sweep out disorder and head into 2017 with a clean, organised plate.
1. Take stock of where you’re at – and where you want to be
Are you at the point you envisioned when you started your business, or hit an anniversary? If not, it’s time to step back and take a critical look at what you’re doing, what you should be doing, and how you’re going to get there.
Get fired up with the energy of the new year and put those plans to achieve your goals in motion. Whatever your next step, go ahead and take it.
This works for BNI as well as your business. Now is a great time to start talking to your chapter members about your goals for 2017.
2. Polish your online presence
Every aspect of technology is constantly evolving, and that includes website content, design and development. When was the last time your business website had an overhaul?
Modern websites are trending toward cleaner, simpler designs with impactful fonts and fewer graphics. They’re easy to navigate, often have fewer pages, and instantly convey what your business is all about. Consider getting a facelift for your small business website in 2017.
Also, think about getting onto BNI Connect if you haven’t already. It’s our online portal and offers great opportunities for collaboration among BNI members.
3. Tidy your inbox
Email overload is a problem for all of us. This isn’t surprising, considering that worldwide, nearly 300 billion emails are sent every day – some of them are bound to end up in your inbox.
This doesn’t mean you have to spend a few solid days doing nothing but deleting emails, instead, use your email provider’s automated tools to run searches and mass delete emails you know aren’t necessary—you can do this by sender, subject, or keyword.
You can also use labels, filters, and folders to set up a sorting system that automatically organises your inbox as messages come in, so you can keep things neat.
Givers Gain ®
Now’s a great time to think about Givers Gain® and supporting hospice or other community organisations coming up to Christmas. Recently chapters in the Tauranga region did some fantastic fundraising for Waipuna Hospice through an initiative called ‘Spring Clean for Hospice’. It started with BNI Oceanside clearing out their clutter to support the local hospice (and wider community). They were joined by BNI Elite, BNI In the Bay and BNI Tauranga Harbour as well as local Westpac branches all donating items to hospice shops. This initiative has helped stock the shops with quality items just in time for Christmas; these items will raise money to support vital hospice services.
Why not consider doing your own small, fundraiser for hospice coming up to Christmas or in the New Year? It’s a great way to practise Givers Gain®.
