By Susan Letterman White
January is often when we start to think about our lives and careers. It’s a great time for a new start or a refresh because we’re primed by our culture to think about a fresh start. It starts right after Christmas and continues through the end of the month with advertisements, articles, and videos telling us to think and act now.
In reality, the time to start is now, whether “now” is in January or your birthday or a career path anniversary, like the start or end of a school year, or when you need refresh your business or pivot on your career path. Planning and spontaneity in your career and business work together, which is why tenacity and resilience leadership competencies are as important as project, time, and task management leadership competencies. Similarly, your innovation and problem-solving skills are as important as your planning skills.
If you own or wish to launch a business, the foundation is your business plan and budget. If do not have a business plan and budget, now is the time to create both. The usual time we think about business plans and budgets if we are entrepreneurs, is when starting up a new business. The planning process for both, then tend to slip under the waves of doing the work we are selling. It’s important to revisit both at least annually and at that time think about your business model. The processes and structures you need to attract customers or clients interested in buying whatever you are selling, create those products or services, and generate revenue in your business bank account comprise your business model. Then ask, whether they are working effectively and efficiently. It’s also time to revisit your business model, business plan, and budget if your cash flow is not generating the profit you want.
If, instead, you are looking to advance in a career as an employee of an organization, now is the to refresh your resume and explore opportunities in the job marketplace. If you are finding there is a match between your resume and many opportunities, you will get to the interview stage. If you are not finding the right opportunities or if, you apply, but do not get to the interview stage, one possible reason might be missing skills or experiences. It’s important to evaluate your skills and experience for their match with opportunities of interest to you to get on the right career path and continue to advance toward your vision of success.
Finally, if you find that it’s difficult for you to answer the root of all career and business decisions – “what do you want” – then I recommend you explore. “What do I want?” seems to be a question that for some people becomes more difficult to answer after the age of 10. If that’s you, it’s time to find out what is blocking you from looking for and finding answers. Maybe you need to learn or experience something new. It may be a simple as changing up your routine with new books to read, new movies to watch, new hobbies to begin, or new routes to the grocery store. Or, it may be time to return to school and expand your network of relationships.
Regardless, planning and a willingness to look for ways around the walls that block your next step forward are easier with resilience and tenacity. So, remember it’s always time to look back and look forward to find your next step or a fresh start.
