Secrets to Success in 2012

Over the last few days I’ve been writing down my goals for the next 12 months. For me, this is the perfect time of year to step back and look at the big picture.

It’s also fun to think about how I might be able to change my life and reach new levels of success, and how I’ll feel when I reach the goals I set for myself.

There are actually two ‘success secrets’ here.

The first is to actually HAVE goals for the next 12 months. The second is to write them down.

Have you spent time to really think about your goals for the next 12 months, and not just business goals but personal goals as well?

I find that if I don’t have specific goals that I’m working toward, I’m really just treading water, and all the effort and time I put in each day don’t really carry me in any specific direction.

That said, I think the biggest ‘success secret’ for 2012 can be summed up in one word – Action.

The only thing standing between us and achieving our goals is the will and courage to take action. Procrastination is our worst enemy, always offering an excuse for inaction. So now’s the time to overcome those niggling doubts and take the action we know we need to.

The action you take in 2012 should be smart and calculated:

1. Know your market. Take action to really know your target market. Why do they do the things they do? What habits will you need to form or break? Create an avatar of your ideal customer and put a picture of them on your wall. Then focus everything you do on helping them solve their problems, and fulfil their needs and wants.
2. Know your numbers. Don’t commit financially to your new business idea until you’ve worked out if it is actually profitable. Take the time to develop a cash flow forecast for the next 12 months – a realistic one.

At the end of the day, the most successfully businesses of 2012 will be those that know their target market better than the competition, and that know their numbers and what they need to do to make a profit.

Be the smart business owner who has a business plan for success in 2012.