The new year is already upon us. Can you believe it? Do you feel ready to put 2015 in the past, or are you looking back on a year well spent?
Each year, we’re all familiar with the tradition of setting resolutions, things that we vow to achieve or become in the next year. Entrepreneurs, being goal setters by nature, often like to participate with resolutions related to their small business or startup.
I asked entrepreneurs to send me their new year’s resolutions, so you can get a snapshot into the mind of small business, and maybe find some 2016 resolution inspiration.
We also analyzed the results from the resolution conversation on our Facebook page to take the pulse of our Bplans readers:
We surveyed our Bplans readers, and here are their #2016Goals. We’d love to hear yours! #startup #entrepreneur pic.twitter.com/0HOCtTewJk
— Bplans.com (@Bplans) January 13, 2016
In 2016, try something new
Kathy, writing her resolution.
“My top new year’s resolution related to the business is to find a way to grow the business enough this year to be able to give back.
The services we provide are aesthetic procedures and not everyone that wants them can afford them. What I would like to be able to afford is to donate services to women that have been abused or assaulted and who have self-esteem around their physical appearance that is negative.
By offering them procedures that will improve their face or body aesthetically to the way they want to look, hopefully we can help them feel better about themselves and enable them to overcome any emotional challenges they have from their abuse or assault.
I wish my business could afford to take care of more people that can’t afford such services but who would benefit from a procedure like the ones we offer.” – Kathy King, of Sculpted Contours
[Tweet “”My new year’s resolution is grow my business enough this year to be able to give back.””]
Becky, with her written resolution and book.
“I have a small ghostwriting business. I work with best-selling author Melissa G Wilson, a Chicago publisher, to produce books for Fortune 500 companies and CEOs.
But I also have a passion for helping the homeless, because I was homeless until I started my business in 2010, a year after my TED talk about being homeless.
I just published my book, “The Homeless Entrepreneur.” My new year’s resolution is to write the workbook that goes with it, and to compile a list and additional case studies of other homeless people who have started their businesses while homeless and to write a book about their ‘tips to success.’
I will graduate January 12, 2016 from Cicville.com, a local startup program for entrepreneurs, and an affiliate of WIBO (Workshop in Business Opportunities), founded in the 60s to help the homeless and impoverished start their businesses.
The gentleman who started CIC, and my instructor David Durovy, founder of The Post Institute, are interested in seeing if the book can be used locally and statewide to help the homeless start thinking about starting their own business!
Ambitious, but that’s the resolution!” – Becky Blanton, of The Homeless Entrepreneur
Tasha, with her written resolution and cotton candy cart.
“For 2016, my resolution is to provide better self care.
Self care includes monitoring my physical, spiritual, social, and psychological state on a regular basis.
I plan on attending workshops throughout the year in order to make myself more available for social events, and I plan on engaging in feel-good activities.
I’m hoping self care will continue to give me the strength to be ‘every woman.’” – Tasha Kornegay, of Oscar William Gourmet Cotton Candy
[Tweet “”For 2016 my resolution is to provide better self care.””]
In 2016, unplug
One of Adam’s favorite vacation destinations: Big Sur, California.
“My new year’s resolution is to take a vacation with my wife somewhere new and leave the computer at home.
Since we operate as a remote team, anytime you are near a computer or phone, you can technically be in the office.
It’s been a long year of working hard for both of us and the travel we did to visit family only meant catching up late into the night.
It would be nice to travel somewhere that will let me truly turn off my computer, at least from the business.” – Adam Rivette of Barrel Backers
CEOs need time to read, too.
“To delegate and say no more!
I run multiple businesses and have staff in multiple time zones.
I will delegate more and trust my team to make the right decisions so I’m freed up for more ‘CEO time.'” – James Swanwick, of Swanwick Sleep
[Tweet “”My new year’s resolution is to be able to go ‘off the grid’ for one month.””]
Brad in a decidedly “off the grid” moment.
“A major new year’s resolution is to, by the end of the year, be able to go ‘off the grid’ for one month. (I was inspired by Brad Feld’s annually taking a month off grid.)
On the surface it may seem easy, however as a small business owner we can be in 100 percent control of way too many aspects of our business, so building an infrastructure that will allow me to be absent for a month will be good for both me as the owner and for the business both short and long term.” – Brad Hall of EntertainmentCareers.net
In 2016, take the next step
[Tweet ““For 2016, my new year’s resolution is to move my startup out of my home and into an office.””]
Robby’s “earn-a-living” room, pictured here.
“For 2016, my new year’s resolution is to move my startup out of my home and into an office.
This used to be a living room, now I call it the ‘earn-a-living’ room.” – Robby Sorensen of Finger Puppets, Inc
Edward, working on his public speaking.
“My motto is shoot for the moon, land in the stars, so I have pretty high aspirations for 2016.
I’m a viral video producer so my number one resolution is to start a global phenomenon on the level of the Harlem Shake or Ice Bucket Challenge. I’ve come close before and will get there again.
I’m also a content marketing consultant and for 2016, I want to up my clients from SMB level to enterprise. Finally, I’ve been working really hard on my public speaking abilities and aiming in the next year to consistently appear on industry panels.” – Edward Sturm
Lord Jello Worthington II, in all his splendor.
“My name is Jessica and I’m the founder of Pixelkeet and cofounder of CrowdMed.
Last year, my new year’s resolution was to make my parakeet, Lord Jello Worthington II, the most famous parakeet in business.
In July of 2015, Jello made the front-page of the Wall Street Journal and had a short video made about him. He’s also been in Fast Company and Tech.Co. My resolution for 2016 is for Jello to get a corporate sponsor.” – Jessica Greenwalt of Pixelkeet
[Tweet “”Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” — Oprah Winfrey”]
What’s your new year’s resolution? Share it with us on Facebook and include your photos that capture your idea! We love seeing what our readers and Bplans members are up to.
Artistic + intellectual pursuits. Social justice. Actress. Model. Musician. Eugene // Portland.
