Isn’t it astonishing when you consider that the year is coming to a close? It was only last week – or so it seems – you were making plans for the upcoming year.

Like most optimistic entrepreneurs, you executed your strategic options flawlessly. And, like many entrepreneurs, you discovered some of the strategies got you closer to your objectives and others – well, let’s face it, you wasted paper creating them. Despite wrapping up final figures, there remains one strategy requiring your attention: celebrating your achievements.

Regardless of your successes or failures, it’s worth noting that if you’re reading this, you’re still in business! The fact that the doors to your business remain open means two things: you did many of the right things and you did many things right.

Before you break out in “Auld Lang Syne” and pop the champagne on the new year, let’s put 10 minutes on the clock and see how many achievements, large and small, you have realized this past year.

Here are some questions to get you started:

1. What did you learn that accelerates your growth moving forward?
2. What did you learn that you know you’ll never repeat?
3. What new skill did you add to your quiver?
4. What skill was improved or strengthened?
5. Whom did you meet that positively influenced your business?
6. What area of your business is stronger today?
7. What are you able to see along the horizon that wasn’t visible last year at this time?
8. What events did you attend that were new and/or different this year whether it was for networking, marketing, or seeking assistance that caused you to stretch your comfort zone?
9. What was your most proud moment?
10. What can you say about yourself or your business today that you were unable to say last year at this time?

As you consider the response for each question, you’ll undoubtedly agree that despite the balance sheet or bank balance, you have much to celebrate that will serve you well long after this year has become a faint memory.

From our business to yours, we wish you a stellar new year!

Recently, I wrote about the things I learned from my Mom that make me a better small business entrepreneur. Although I seldom post business information on my personal Facebook page, I felt this was appropriate to share. Hence, my sister, Denice, began thinking of all that Dad taught us through running his small business. Now, in her own words, is Denice’s contribution to our blog, Bite-Size Chunks of Wisdom:

Yesterday, Jackie wrote a Synnovatia blog about Mom teachings as they relate to small business. I have attached the link, in case you missed it. It made my mind whirl, or was it the snow and wind that was hitting my bedroom windows? It definitely made me very nostalgic. Thanks, Jackie.

I thought, “What are 10 things that Dad taught us that he also used in running his small business, Johnny’s Repair?” Here are my thoughts….

1. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When the shop where Dad worked was closing in the early 1970’s, he didn’t sit around with his Lucky Strikes and Walker’s bourbon collecting an unemployment check. He built his own small business including a building. Build it and they will come, and they did.
2. Sometimes you can’t do everything yourself, you have to enlist help. Call Mom on the phone and have her come down to help you split that tractor.
3. Keep things neat and orderly. Put your tools away after use. You can see where they are supposed to hang because there is an outline drawn in that location on the pegboard.
4. There are times that you have to leave your comfort zone. You may have to leave the shop and travel out to the field to fix that baler.
5. “If you don’t have time for me to do it right the first time, how much time do you have for me to do it over.” Positive words by customers are invaluable and you won’t have to run an ad in the Glen Ullin Times.
6. Evaluate and follow your budget. Sponsoring a women’s bowling team with shirts displaying the Johnny’s Repair name is money well spent. It is inevitable that you will have to do that when your wife is bowling on that team.
7. Conduct yourself in a respectful manner at all times. Especially if you are wearing your coveralls with “Johnny’s Repair” on the back and “Johnny” on the front pocket.
8. Take care of yourself. Go home for lunch each day, put your feet up and take a 15-minute nap.
9. Make sure you have some money reserved for the unforeseen expenses. Keep a Mason jar with cash in the freezer.
10. Take time to smell the roses. Life is way too short!

The business was sold in 1982.

Note: I realize that I really didn’t know much about his thoughts on running his business…I was busy living MY life.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Denice!

What did your Dad teach you about running your small business?