Business Resolutions for the New Year

Hello Again,

I hope you were able to spend time with family and friends over the past few weeks. If you are like most of us, we resolved in 2008 to stay in touch more frequently, pay attention to those who matter to us, exercise more and get organized.

Do New Year’s resolutions pertain to business as well? I think they do, at least in the form of projections and goals for the New Year. Is there a more effective way to record some of those resolutions and share then with your team, truly making them business resolutions? Here is a list to help you get started:

• Implement a sales calling program – its time to get back in touch with those who keep you in business. The end of the year shouldn’t be the only time you contact them to say thank you.
• Track monthly business expenses – engage your employees, help them understand the impact of how controlling everyday expenses can have a positive effect on earnings. Help them understand why it’s important and how it involves them.
• If you don’t recycle, start now – shred the paper and recycle it; put recycle bins in your break room for cans and bottles. You may not save money, but you’ll contribute to the environment in a positive way.

Read on for more information about goal-setting and let us know if you have a great idea we can share!



Vice President and Manager
Zions Business Resource Center

Small Biz  Partners & Resources

SCORE -- Provides counseling to small businesses

Ogden SCORE - E-mail
ogdenscore158@aol.com

Salt Lake SCORE - Chapter 0049
310 South Main St., N. Mezzanine, Salt Lake City. Phone: (801) 746-2269; Fax: (801) 746-2273; Email: mallen@slcscore.com

Wayne Brown Institute -- Runs the oldest and most successful non-profit venture accelerator program in the country, helping technical entrepreneurs from every social economic level raise money for their businesses.

Small Business Development Centers
-- Provides counseling and training to small businesses.

Small Business Administration -- Provides information about small business (Click here for Utah SBA)

Utah Micro Enterprise Loan Fund -- Provides counseling and funding for small business

The Pete Suazo Business Center -- Provides counseling and training for Hispanic/Latino business.

Utah Business.gov -- Provides online access to Utah Government services; one stop shop business registrations.

Export.gov -- Provides information on how to export your product.

Feature

Ready, Set, Goal!

Chamber Workshop Teaches Goal Setting for Business/Personal Growth

It’s a new year and a new opportunity to dust off your business plan, review your priorities, and do some strategic goal setting around where your business is (or should be) headed.

To keep your business fluid, experts say you should establish a regular planning cycle, which can improve your ability to adapt in a dynamic business environment, help you anticipate problems, and maintain your focus. Planning and goal setting will pay dividends long-term, especially as you take on more employees or delegate managerial responsibilities, but strategic planning and goal setting are not easy tasks, especially if you’re heavily focused on the day-to-day tasks of running your business.

If strategic planning and goal setting aren’t your forte, the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce wants to help. The Chamber is offering a goal-setting workshop that will help you determine:

• Where you are
• Where you are going
• How to get there
• Who will help you along the way
• When will you get there
• How you’ll know when you arrived

Topics Covered:

• Guidelines for Successful Goal Setting
• Stepping Out Of Your Comfort Zone
• The 5 Key Elements of Effective Goals
• How To Record and Track Your Goals Progress
• 3 Ways To Eliminate Self Limiting Beliefs
• Creating Your Own Mastermind Group
• The 4 Personality Types Of An Effective Team
• Motivating Your Employees Through A Goal Setting Program
• The Power Of An Hour
• Visualization Techniques To Ensure Success
• Effective Action Planning To Gain Momentum

Your Guide to Understanding Today's Economy

The latest issue of the "Tea Leaf" newsletter by Utah Economist/Futurist Jeff Thredgold, contains his semi-annual economic, financial, and political update, wherein he asks a few difficult questions about the 2008 economy using today’s current movie titles. Says Thredgold: "One of the painful realities of life as an economist and professional speaker is that the subject matter of economics is typically viewed (with good reason!) by the general public as confusing, intimidating, and boring. As a result, trying to present weekly economic and financial information with an unusual twist can occasionally be a most welcome change."