Can you believe it? January 1, 2019 is just twenty-one days away.
I’m excited about the new opportunities we each have before us. New relationships to build. New projects to work on. New horizons to explore.
But the way you finish 2018 will impact your success in 2019.
With three weeks to go, here are eight ways you can launch 2019 with fireworks instead of a fizzle.
1. Spend Time with the Lord
I know the holiday season is packed, but if you’ve not had a chance to get a good soul tune-up recently, make this a priority. Thank God for His blessings in 2018. Commit your plans for 2019 to Him. Ask Him for wisdom, guidance, and direction as you start a new year.
2. Take Time to Think
Let’s face it…many of us are running around like headless robots on auto-pilot. Before 2019 dawns, schedule at least 3 hours one day to hit pause and think. Time to think is one of the most underrated things you can do for your organization.
“I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think,” said financial investor Warren Buffett. “That is very uncommon in American business. I read and think. So I do more reading and thinking, and make less impulse decisions than most people in business.”
3. Make 3 Goals for 2019
Resist the urge to have a long shopping list of goals for next year. Write down your list of goals, rank them, and then finally pare your list down to only three goals. You’ll be left with the most important things—-and enough time to do them instead of chasing countless rabbits.
4. Pick One Thing to Delegate
Most leaders are horrible at delegation. We like to do it all ourselves. But it is impossible to lead a healthy and growing organization unless you delegate. Choose one area to let go of in 2019 and start training someone else this week to take it over next year.
5. Cancel Unused Subscriptions
SaaS (Software as a Service) makes our digital lives amazing, but it can also consume our budgets. You might have an app or two that you are no longer using, but are still paying to have. Those $9.99 and $19.99 monthly subscriptions add up quick.
6. Choose One Social Media Account to Grow in 2019
YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter….it can all be so overwhelming. And when we get overwhelmed, we freeze and do nothing. Choose one of the Big Five to grow next year and pause or set a sustainable posting schedule for the rest.
7. Create a Plan for Your Email Marketing
Social media helps you achieve short-term marketing connections. Email is the key to long-term marketing relationships. You’ll find more lasting (and cheaper) success by making your email marketing a priority compared to social media.
8. Book Quarterly Strategy Sessions on Your Calendar NOW
Avoid getting stuck on auto-pilot next year. Look at your calendar for 2019 now while it’s still relatively empty. Schedule a day each quarter in advance to evaluate what has/has not been working and make changes.
Remember the old adage, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.” That applies to marketing, too.
Want change in 2019? It starts in 2018.
You have three weeks left.
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