Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their very own.
Key Takeaways
- An extended-standing annual ritual helps a small enterprise proprietor replicate on the previous yr, make clear priorities and put together thoughtfully for what’s forward.
- By means of deliberate planning, private accountability and significant connections, the method brings perspective, stability, and renewed focus with out counting on inflexible programs.
I’ve been operating a small enterprise for greater than 20 years. Over that point, I’ve developed some routines. One routine occurs annually at the moment. Throughout December, I’m wanting forward and considering of the following yr. I make my plans. I make just a few resolutions. I examine in with these essential. The precise particulars change annually, however the course of is similar.
Right here’s what I do yearly, on the finish of every yr.
Worker bonuses
Earlier than the yr is over, I attempt to ensure that all of my workers and contractors who influence my enterprise have been evaluated, related and obtain my appreciation. I ship money bonuses to every of them. It’s a discretionary bonus that I give you yearly based mostly on income and I’m cautious to ensure that the bonus isn’t lower than it was the earlier yr, until income are so unhealthy that I couldn’t afford to make the cost (which fortunately hasn’t ever occurred). Even in 2025, I’m doing these bonuses by guide examine, which I slip into a vacation card that features a private observe and is intentionally delivered old fashioned within the mail. For just a few distant workers, I do the bonuses electronically, however nonetheless ship the cardboard.
Worker evaluations
As a result of my enterprise is solely digital and plenty of of my individuals are situated all through the world, I’ve stopped doing vacation events. Nonetheless, I make it a degree to examine in earlier than the yr is over with all workers with a casual analysis simply to verify they’re getting good (and constructive) suggestions and so they know the place they stand going into the following yr. I take this time additionally to determine just a few objectives for the upcoming calendar yr (i.e., chargeability, income era, shopper service scores, schooling certificates, and many others.) with every individual so they’re clear how they’ll be evaluated within the coming yr and might benchmark themselves.
Items
Proper after Thanksgiving, I draw up a listing of individuals whom I need to thank for doing enterprise with me throughout the yr. They’re purchasers, potential purchasers, suppliers, companions and other people within the media. I normally ship candies from Godiva or a present basket, and I preserve the finances to about $35 per individual. There are normally about 50 individuals on this listing, so you are able to do the maths. There’s additionally time concerned by my assistant to coordinate all of the ordering. Which suggests there’s a price. But it surely’s price it. I begin with final yr’s listing and modify it. I get lots of pleasure in doing this. And I commonly hear again from individuals saying thanks, and I do know it’s appreciated. It’s not a lot, nevertheless it’s a real gesture and jogs my memory of the people who find themselves actually essential for my enterprise.
Forecast
For a enterprise as small as mine, I don’t do a finances. However I do put together a forecast. That is a web based spreadsheet and for my eyes solely. It takes me just a few days to work on annually at the moment. I revisit compensation and different prices to verify my annual overhead displays actuality. I decide particular quantifiable objectives for my enterprise — chargeable hours, shopper mission completions, new media tasks and consulting purchasers, new shopper income, and many others. — however I don’t make them extreme or out of attain. My spreadsheet takes into consideration an inexpensive estimate of the work I can count on within the coming yr and displays each direct and administrative prices related to that work, together with a projected web revenue for the yr. This manner, I’ve my numbers clear heading into the brand new yr and I do know what I’ve to realize.
Resolutions
New 12 months’s resolutions are corny. However they’re helpful. Presently of yr, I make resolutions. For instance, on this coming yr, I’m resolving to satisfy sure of my distant workers in individual as soon as 1 / 4, even when which means me flying out to see them. I’m additionally resolving to lean deeper into AI in 2026 by assessing the capabilities I can leverage in my present software program (accounting, CRM, workplace) and investing in coaching for my individuals to make use of it. I’m additionally going to lean closely into an AI Assistant to help me in all issues I do in my enterprise — proper now it’s ChatGPT, however Grok is coming in as a powerful contender too.
Additionally, I’m committing to taking over just a few tasks which are out of my consolation zone as a result of — although I’m risking profitability and even my fame — it’s the one technique to develop, and it retains one’s thoughts very energetic with new challenges. I attempt to preserve these resolutions to a small quantity in order that they’re achievable.
Associated: 7 Issues I’ve Realized In 7 Years of Entrepreneurship
Private objectives
In addition to my enterprise resolutions, I do make just a few private objectives for myself annually. That normally revolves round sustaining a sure weight, exercising commonly, enjoying higher squash (don’t ask!) visiting a brand new nation (my spouse and I’ve been Airbnb-ing and dealing remotely three to 4 weeks in January in a distinct nation annually over the previous few years and like it) or taking a household trip or taking a course in one thing I like. These objectives not solely give me one thing to sit up for but additionally preserve my head balanced between enjoyable stuff and work stuff.
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Crucial factor about forecasting, aim setting, and creating resolutions is accountability. None of this issues should you’re not holding your self accountable to your commitments. To that finish, I create a job in my calendar software to “examine in” on all of these items on the finish of every quarter. I’ve come to sit up for doing this when the duty comes up on my to-do listing for the day. It’s a technique to remind me of all that I’ve deliberate to do within the present yr and offers me a reset as to the place issues stand.
By the top of the yr, it’s fascinating to see simply how a lot I completed and the way practical all of my objectives have been. I preserve these duties in my historical past as a result of it’s additionally enjoyable to look again at what was on my thoughts 5 or ten years in the past. You’d be shocked at how trivial all of these “issues” that have been so essential again then are immediately. It offers me perspective.
That is what I do yearly. That is my course of. It eases my thoughts. It offers me readability. It helps me look ahead. It helps me admire what’s prior to now. It helps me put together for the long run. For those who’re a enterprise proprietor like I’m, I strongly counsel doing one thing comparable. It really works.
Key Takeaways
- An extended-standing annual ritual helps a small enterprise proprietor replicate on the previous yr, make clear priorities and put together thoughtfully for what’s forward.
- By means of deliberate planning, private accountability and significant connections, the method brings perspective, stability, and renewed focus with out counting on inflexible programs.
I’ve been operating a small enterprise for greater than 20 years. Over that point, I’ve developed some routines. One routine occurs annually at the moment. Throughout December, I’m wanting forward and considering of the following yr. I make my plans. I make just a few resolutions. I examine in with these essential. The precise particulars change annually, however the course of is similar.
Right here’s what I do yearly, on the finish of every yr.
