Rembrandt, self-portrait, c. 1630, National Museum, Stockholm

Small business will have trouble making any tracks this short week right smack dab in the middle of the Holidays. That makes it the perfect week to take some time to not only count your inventory, but to take honest stock of your business. If you were going to write out your own Year in Review, what would be the highlights? What went well? Can you measure it? Have a party with your team to celebrate the stats. Also examine what went wrong and why. You now have prime opportunity to work on remedial measures–especially for those problems that showed their ugly faces more than once. But this is only the reactive review. It is also good to dream about how to make the New Year your BYY–your Best Year Yet. Dreaming is the proactive review, and the only way to clear new paths through the jungle. What is one thing you can do to make next year different? What we are looking for is not necessarily a whole mass of entrepreneurs jumping on the bandwagon of the latest rage. What we ultimately want is steady, systematic, disciplined health. We want that strategic innovation that makes you prepared for success.

Many entrepreneurs work so hard on their business plan that once they finally have it done, they rest. They set it on the shelf and believe it is ok to set their business on cruise control. Nothing could be further than the truth. Even your Mission Statement should be reviewed annually. Is it still valid? Is it clear? Could it be said in a more concise way? Don’t forget, our own Constitution, as great as it is, required amendments to keep it useful and contemporary. If you are not reviewing your plan at least annually, I can guarantee at least one of two things.  For one, in the battle for the survival of the fittest, you will face extinction from climate change. And two, you are most certainly missing opportunities.

Small businesses only work in a living breathing ecosystem. This ecosystem is both internal and external. It requires that we become good stewards of our assets, not only concerned about the health and growth of our own business, but in the health of our community. Without a bigger story, small business is just commerce. Commerce without a bigger story is at a distinct disadvantage. We need to be doing business on purpose, and for a purpose. 

We encourage you to do business in 2015 by design. The more robust your annual review, the more robust your return in the New Year. Clarify your reason-to-be. Clarify your focus for 2015, and your vision for beyond. Then instead of a tool of commerce, your business will evolve into a work of art.

That’s this week’s Imagination Hat!