The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on the past year and start intentional planning for the year ahead. Whether it is making big adjustments on how you run your business or 
establishing small objectives that help you reach larger goals, adjusting things can allow for greater success in 2019. Here are some business practices that can help.
#1: Support:
Running a business is hard work. It requires identifying goals and objectives, training employees to reach those, and cultivating connections and relationships that can yield growth. Support from other people in the same field can help encourage you to keep on track to reach goals and offer accountability along the way. This is where the APNA Mastermind Groups can step in to help. These groups are designed to support and challenge participants through group phone calls, peer-to-peer mentoring, focused discussions, webinars, and much more. Learn more about the program here.
#2: Educate:
Continuing education is important for professionals in all fields. Agencies often attend staffing industry events in addition to industry related conferences that can give them access to new business tools and ideas for the year. Some of the three main industry conferences that we recommend is our own Association of Premier Nanny Agencies conference, in addition to the International Nanny Association conference and Domestic Estate Management Association conference.
#3: Unify:
At the beginning of the year, marketing efforts should be analyzed closely so you can be sure everything is unified and coherent across a broad range of channels. If your marketing efforts are disjointed or focus only on one channel while forgetting about other channels that could be just as effective, you may be missing opportunities to reach your target audience. While you’re making sure things are united in that area, also make sure your team is unified in the same way. Be available for questions, suggestions, and discussions to ensure everyone is on the same page.
As a business owner, it is easy to get caught up in the daily to-dos and challenges that can arise, while neglecting the big picture of what your chief goals are. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to establish business practices that are specifically developed for you and your agency. This will give your business a clear purpose and path toward long-term growth.
Brooke Strickland is a writer focusing on small businesses. You can find her on her website at www.brookestrickland.org or connect with her on Facebook.