Did you make your millions?

The financial year is drawing to a close and most small businesses are either frantically trying ot get in more sales for the year or they are in strategic planning mode for the next financial year.

If you have met your sales goals for the year - Congratulations! You deserve a pat on the back and so does your entire team. Many companies were not so lucky this year, or last year for that matter.

If you have not met your sales goals, it is time to have a big think about what you could have done differently. Whilst you are working out what went wrong, you will ultimately work out what you can do right in the next 12 months.

Consider;
- Improving your training programs for sales and business development staff
- Be more strategic with marketing initiatives and tie it into sales results
- Better understand your sales cycle
- Doing a pulse check on team motivation
- Any product and/or service improvements

On the plane today, I read bits of Siimon Reynolds' book "Why People Fail" which offers strategies and tips for beating failure habits such as;

- Unclear purpose
- Destructive thinking
- Low productivity
- Weak energy
- Not asking the right questions
- Poor presentation skills
- Stress
- Lack of persistence
- Money obsession

All of these things according to Reynolds, can be attributed to people failing. By identifying what has made your business not reach its goals, you can commence making the right changes for the new financial year.

I love the fact that twice a year - xmas and end of financial year, I am able to start the year fresh. New plan. Fresh thoughts. Improved processes and a reason to engage with clients and your team to ensure that everyone is on the right track and empowered.

Use this time to speak to your staff and find out what their goals are and how you can help them achieve it.

Then, explain waht your goals are and what the company is trying to achieve. Ask them if you both can work together to achieve each others goals. Your staff are a team and when you are all on the same team, amazing things happen with your business.

Setting business goals is imperative to succeeding. Keeping on track and investing time, money and energy into making them happen will change your business outcomes.

And if you need a 'marketing eye', you know where to find one ;)

P.S. If you like this marketing blog, then please feel free to share it on whatever social network medium you see fit. We love facebook, twitter and linkedin!