24 Business Questions to Ask before Year End

December has arrived. It’s less than 31 days until 2014, but are you ready for a 2014? Do you know what going to happen? No, none of us do, but have you even thought about what you want to happen for you, your business, and your family during the next 365 days?

Now is a good time to start thinking so here is just one question for you to answer for every day of Advent? It focusses on your business only, but whatever happens in the business impacts your personal life in some way.

Try taking 1/48^th of your day – that’s 30 minutes - to mull over the question and jot down your thoughts. Then after the Christmas celebrations are over, you’ll be well on the way to having a clear plan for 2014.

Here goes…

1. What have you achieved, did you hit your targets drop short or blast through them?
2. What success did you have, can you repeat them?
3. What objectives and goals do you have for 2014?
4. Re-write your brand manifesto for the next year
5. Re-assess your personal network – who do you know, who have you met, connected with etc.?
6. Who are your profitable customers – the ones that deliver the most profit?
7. How have your competitors faired this past year and what might they do next year?
8. Which customers do you need to sack, professionally of course?
9. What’s your BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for next year?
10. Is your team engaged with your vision – time to re-engage?
11. Do you need to strengthen your support network?
12. What numbers are you targeting next year?
13. Are your business standards up to scratch? Perhaps it’s time to review them?
14. Is your business forecast up to date?
15. What can you automate to bring in consistency?
16. What can you delegate or terminate from your to-do list?
17. If you are the boss, who are you accountable to?
18. Have you planned your calendar for next year?
19. Have you booked next year’s holiday?
20. Do your regular management or board meetings take place or get cancelled?
21. Are you continually improving your business processes?
22. When did you last invest in yourself – what are you going to learn next year?
23. Celebrate with your team
24. Take a well-earned break, recharge and come out strong for 2014.