Get Ready to Have a Strong 2023!

When I was asked to write this article, the brief was 'How to end the year strong!'. I thought - Why is the emphasis on ending the year strong when actually, you need to prepare for the following year to begin strong?

As entrepreneurs, we all get into this hype and mindset that January is a slow month, no one's buying anything, no one's doing anything, we use this time for planning, business is going to be quiet, blah, blah, blah.

Does any of this sound familiar? That's because this is the mindset we have been conditioned to as business owners - to justify not preparing ourselves and our businesses ahead of time so that we do not experience this. It's when we don't have a plan, and if we do have a plan, then we don't activate it.

I was that entrepreneur not so long ago. I believed all those things, justified it, and victimised myself for January/February being slow and, at times, limited the income, clients and opportunities coming into my business. 

There had to be something missing. Why was it that other businesses and entrepreneurs were thriving during this period? Especially coaches. This is the prime time when everyone wants to take charge of their lives and do things differently. So I should be bringing in the clients without any problems!

I started to study what they were doing differently to me. And I discovered they used the last quarter of the year to ensure clients had a reason to work with them and buy from them the following year.

They spent time in advance selling, marketing and setting up. Their last quarter goals and activities also accounted for the things they needed to put into play to have clients and income already coming in.

Business success is all about momentum. You can't build on what you haven't achieved, and taking your focus away from finishing the fourth quarter strong will put you behind on day one of the first quarter of next year.

There is wisdom in the saying, "start strong to finish strong," but the truth is that you have to Finish Strong to Start The Next Year Strong. 

Most of us use January to plan for the year ahead, but I am learning, as my business continues to grow, that you plan for the year but review every quarter to prepare for the next. Planning, just like sales & marketing, never sleeps and never stops. It's an integral part of a business.

So with this in mind, how can you Finish Strong to Start The Next Year Stronger? 

Know What Your Goals Are

What is your main goal for the next new year? Do you want to grow your social reach? Add to a new or existing email list? Is the focus on achieving a particular sum of money over the year?

Whatever your goal is, you must acknowledge it and (if you have a team) share it with them and how to reach that goal. 

Your goal is your compass, and you must know which direction your business needs to go in.

Don't Give Up In December

December naturally becomes a month where you psychologically begin to wind down and take your foot off the accelerator. But this month is as crucial as any other. There are lots of sales to be made - and people want to buy immediately!

Black Friday, Christmas and New Year's sales events are everywhere. What do you have planned to help you generate income during these times? You need to plan to start marketing weeks or months in advance to take advantage of this fruitful month.

Follow Up With Your Leads

In December, you may have potential clients who initially show interest but fall through the cracks. Do you have processes set in place to reach out to these people? 

A simple email/text/WhatsApp communication lets them know that you are still available to them, puts you in the forefront of their minds, and adds a personal touch to your connection. Don't write off potential customers too quickly — life gets in the way, so gently check in and let them know that you are thinking of them.

Focus on your wins

Whether the year went well or not, you have to focus on the wins you have had. This will help keep you motivated and excited about all the things you have yet to do, create and learn and acknowledge just much you are evolving. 

Launch Your Products or Services

The start of the year is a great time to launch your new and existing products or services with both current and new clients. It's a great reminder for them to know what you do, and you never know - they may be ready to buy them!

Grow your social media

Digital marketing in this day and age means marketing on social media. This is the new norm; you will struggle to sell if you resist this. 

If you haven't made social media a tangible focus, it is time to do so. Start to reach out and interact with your followers. Posting about your actions can instigate engagement from followers you often don't speak with. 

Remember that engagement is the key to growing your followers, clients and customers.

The end of the year can be difficult, but the start of the new year doesn't have to be. These key methods can be a great way to kick off your new year and ensure that you finish stronger this year than last year. 

With these small actions, you'll be ready and in business when the new year rings in rather than trying to figure out what's next.

'Finish Strong to Start The Next Year Even Stronger!'

Ambila Nath is a serial entrepreneur, certified coach, spiritual leader, international speaker and an avid follower of her passions. She is known for her 'Straight Taking Spirituality'.

With a corporate background in management consulting, Ambila is far from your stereotypical Spiritual Coach. She went from a 6 figure corporate job to having a spiritual business. She has worked with clients spanning 4 Continents and she knows that the greatest journey you can take is the one to build a relationship with yourself. Life isn't complicated - we are!

Ambila helps you manifest a business you love by aligning your energy, shifting your mindset and creating positive daily habits to grow your business using the 8-step Elevation process. The key to manifesting the Business you dream of. . . is knowing who you are!

You can find more about Ambila and her work here or look her up on LinkedIn, drop by on Facebook or Instagram or even watch her on Youtube