7 Strategies for Entrepreneurs in 2014

Plan your marketing efforts and big events for the New Year: Set up a master calendar that shows all the big dates that are important to your organization. This should include milestones, celebrations, product releases, major customer service renewals and industry events.

Show your gratitude for 2013: There is a saying that you should not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will come soon enough and bring its own problems. Smart businesspeople, while always keeping an eye on future opportunities, take time to appreciate their business partners and employees. Before 2014 comes around, don’t forget to show your appreciation for those that made 2013 a success.

Review your goals: No year ever goes according to plan. Sometimes that is good, sometimes not. Before the year is up, review what went right and what went wrong and fix those metrics, processes and procedures to get back on track. Remove what doesn’t work and do be afraid to implement new ideas that better handle the business direction.

Finalize your 2014 budget: If your 2014 budget is not complete, complete it. Don’t go into the New Year without revenue, profit and cash-flow goals. That is a big mistake. Any budget can be reviewed and adjusted but the business goals need to be planned out. Also, assemble a looser three-year and five-year plan. That will help you stick to your current budget and objectives when connected to a bigger picture.

Learn from your successes as well as failures: Most business owners beat themselves up over what went wrong, swearing not to repeat the same mistakes. However, just as much can be learned from your successes. Review what went right throughout the year and try to replicate it.

Take time off: Solutionn providers, like most entrepreneurs, can be workaholics, but it's important to take time to unwind. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It also makes for one stressed-out Jack, who, in turn, will stress out his family and employees. Getting away from the businesses reinvigorates the mind and body and makes you a better businessman.

Re-evaluate your position:
 Many entrepreneurs start businesses because they are tired of working for somebody else and want to do something they enjoy. However, many just end up creating a job for themselves because they haven’t trained or prepared their employees properly. Take this time to evaluate your own job description and make sure you are doing what you set out to originally.