January 1st is a day like any other. Yet on this day more than any other we decide we have the power to start something new. Why?
The tradition dates as far back as 46 B.C, when January 1st was declared a day of new beginnings by Julius Caesar to honor Janus, the Roman god of beginnings. Janus was the god of gates and doors, holding the key to what was and what has yet to come.
Transformative COURSES & WORKSHOPS that make integrating peaceful living, health and wellness easy, fun and affordable.
Centuries later we’ve watered this sentiment down to ‘new year, new you’ – one phrase with all the engineering of a marketing campaign slogan.
There’s a reason the gyms are only packed until mid February. New Year resolutions are the act of deciding to make a change, not the lasting effort. When you resolve to do something you’re immediately setting your actions in the future. Like searching for motivation, it’s a passive step that allows you to avoid facing what’s stopping you from taking action right now.
Much like Janus, running a business requires the ability to look at what was and what can be simultaneously. But what good does that do if you forget to prioritize the present moment? Learn from your past, plan for your future, but take action now.
So where do you start?
Step One: Reframe Your Resolution
One of the reasons resolutions don’t work for business is this: your business is not and will never be static. It’s a constant state of evolution, observing outcomes and shifting your actions accordingly. One overall goal for the year not only risks overwhelm and chaos, it provides no actionable steps so you can actually reach your goals. It’s like walking into the gym with the intent to improve your health but no plan for what you’re going to work on that day/week.
Within every resolution is a slew of good intentions, but making a change requires having a plan that supports the desired change. You’re far more likely to continue with daily workouts if you outline smaller benchmark goals that direct what you need to do during each workout.
Running a business requires similar planning. Increasing awareness of your brand is a fantastic goal! But it means absolutely nothing without the supporting steps that answer: how?
Step Two: Outline Your Smaller Goals and Actionable Steps
If you’re a first time entrepreneur or jumping into a new venture headfirst, one of the best ways to start is by following successful business owners that you find inspiring. Find those that you identify with and can relate to because when you see a version of yourself in someone else’s story you can begin to visualize what it is that you need to do next. Suddenly, what was a daydream is a validated possibility.
Once you find that validation, allow yourself the courage to know that your dreams don’t actually need validation at all. You just needed the push to get started.
Then find the experts. People who excel in areas that you either aren’t confident in, need retraining in, don’t know enough about or simply aren’t good at. When you’re starting out, outsourcing these tasks isn’t always feasible. You need to find ways to understand and utilize them without letting it eat up your time.
For example, social media used to be a constant headache for me. Then I discovered Community Over Algorithm, a business dedicated to helping other business owners plan and enjoy creating their social posts. Through following her account I realized that my headache wasn’t actually social media but the constant need to identify new content to post each day. Once I outlined a strategy that I aligned with, social media became fun again because I wasn’t constantly working at it.
When you’re low on resources, finding valid resources that help put you on track can make a huge difference. This is true at every stage of your business.
As you identify the information you need, you’ll naturally start to see a path leading towards your goals. You’ll feel inspired because you’re taking action. This part of the process not only moves you forward, but shifts your perspective from ‘help me I’m drowning’ to ‘I can really do this’. That, in and of itself, will make a huge difference in the outcome of your efforts.
Related Post: ROCK YOUR BUSINESS: 4 Steps to Obliterate Fear
Step Three: Continue Building Your Business
What was. What can be. What is. Focusing on all three at once isn’t an easy task but a necessary one. You need the mindfulness to understand the past without bringing it into the future, while planning for the future without neglecting your present moment.
Make a list of every step you need to take. Break each one down with smaller benchmark goals to identify how you think you’ll get there. This will help you move forward without being overwhelming. Be ready for this list to change (often) as you learn new techniques and approaches. No business is a static entity.
Know your audience. Trust your instincts. Don’t be afraid to have fun with your business. You are the only version of yourself and your authenticity can never be replicated by another.
If there is any question of how to continue building your business, clear your head, focus on what you know you need, and work backwards from there to identify the steps you must take.
A New Year resolution won’t get you to your goals. You will.
SAMANTHA PATERNOSTER
Writing is much bigger than a career. It’s more interesting than a hobby. It’s the spark to an eternal curiosity that has led me to learn unexpected skills, treasure knowledge passed down through generations, and create a space for voices that need to speak.
I earned my B.A. in Creative Writing from Brandeis University, with a focus on long and short fiction. I have nearly a decade of experience as a copywriter and editor. But I’ve also worked as an Email Analyst and QA Analyst at Yale University, helping to launch their redesigned Giving page circa 2014.
Most recently, I’ve started my own business – Creatively You. Built for my clients, it is founded on one simple act: listening. By listening to my clients’ dreams and needs, I am able to help them develop their brands through cohesive web design and content that tells their stories.
I don’t believe in linear paths. I do believe in the magic that embracing the unknown can bring.
