Planning for the Year End

As the year comes to an end, this is the time to set aside some time and review what has happened. You need to do this to not only ensure that you are on the right track but also to plan what you can get done (that you have not thought about) by the year’s end.

This is a time to do some business financial housekeeping. Tie up some lose ends etc. For those who pay taxes in April, make an appointment with your CPA to review what you are expecting to earn this year. Discuss tax strategies that will help your individual case.

Write down a list of client and prospects that you need to chat with before the year is up. Review goals and any training with your employees.

Day 2: Analyzing yourself

Welcome to Day 2. Today we will learn how to identify our strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths are those characters that allow us to move forward and instill confidence in us. Whereas weakness hold us back or create obstacles in our efforts.

Self analysis is a two part process. It involves looking inside yourself as well as gathering information from the people you trust and value their opinion.

Let us get started. You will need a notepad and a pen. The easiest way to start is create two columns on the notepad, and write the heading “Strengths” on one side and “Weaknesses” on the other. Then, for each category, and in no specific order, list your strengths and weaknesses.

Take your time, and be honest with yourself.

For the next part, ask the people whose opinion you value (friend, spouse, boss, co-worker) what do they see as your strengths and weaknesses. Tell them to be brutally honest. This is very important.

Start to add to the same list the strengths and weaknesses they tell you. Now, you may notice that some of the items are already there. Instead of writing that item again, mark it (as many times as it is repeated by others).

You may also find that some people are listing an item as a weakness and that you have identified it as a strength or vise-a-verse. It is very important to note those items. If people classify some characteristic as a weakness more than a strength, you need to take note of that.

After completing the above exercise, now clean up you list of strength and weaknesses. The list you are left with are your true strength and weaknesses, as seen by you AND others.

Your goal should be to decrease your weaknesses and convert your weaknesses to strengths. Do accomplish this, for each weakness, create a list of things you need to do in order to change it to a strength.

Then, as Nike says…”Just Do It!”

Next we will learn how to identify your goals in life and business/career.

Please tune in later.

Sal