In my post What’s Your Big Picture for Next Year, I shared that I start by looking at four areas that I need to review and evaluate. The pace of business and consumerism is brisk and seems to change at every turn. Case in point, just go out and try to buy electronics and communications stuff today! Plasma, LED, LCD, Blue Ray, wifi…
Hey, I just wanted two TV’s and something to play my movies on that matches the TV technology? It’s overwhelming and daunting because there are way too many choices and of course we have to have the latest and the greatest! Think about how you do business. People expect those new choices and options on just about everything now, including health care and medical services.
BUT..keeping it as simple and user friendly as possible is very much in play too. I want the new options but I want to understand my choices and not be overwhelmed by them.
In reviewing your BIG Picture and how you will serve, promote and grow consider these four overall areas.
1) Overall review of the year, your business, your consumer and trends. What were the overall themes you noticed this year that carried over and also developed. Spend some time with them and see how they have impacted you and how you need to address them the same or differently for next year. My favorite trend site is www.trendwatching.com. Subscribe to their monthly briefing from around the word.
2) Evaluation of the best practices that have worked for you and why and how you can refine them and continue their success and effectiveness. There will be things that worked before that no longer work the same. When you see this start happening, jump on it. Don’t procrastinate and ignore it. This year I rebranded, refocused and diversified.
3) How can I do it better. Most successful people and companies continually test, try and measure products, services and processes. It always astounds me that some things that I think will work don’t and other things that seem a long shot do! Getting the feedback, survey and comments really helps to know what we need to do better. There are several survey products that are available through LinkedIN, Twitter, Facebook and email marketing services.
4) Putting my vision and intentions into action builds momentum, movement and activity.
I love this quote from Voltaire: “Shun idleness. It is the rust that attaches itself to the most brilliant metals.”
Continuing to refine and share your vision, intention and purpose is how you build your place, reputation and legacy. Be consistent with the one or two things you stand for and want people to know about you.
Your Big Picture is made up of many parts that need to make sense for you and your business and most importantly need to be working together.
Up next we will cover these six parts:
- the current business environment
- the relevance of your skills and how you deliver your business
- the marketability and bank-ability of your product/service
- your sales strategy
- your overall marketing plan
- your online and offline networking and marketing plan
What plan and goals do you use to put together your BIG Picture each year?
