At the beginning of each year, I challenge my clients and readers to name the upcoming year and I get a huge response with people naming their year and sharing what they would like to manifest and work on. 2020 was named the year of vision, clarity, wealth, systems, growth, change.
I am sure if I asked halfway through 2020, many would automatically name 2020 they year of COVID-19, due to the phenomenal effects that the virus has had on their lives and the economy.
For many businesses, especially in the restaurant and personal care sector, the year has had some drastic effects.
However, for others, it’s the best year ever.
So what could make you say that 2020 was the best year ever?
For some businesses, the year 2020 has been spectacular because of the increased demand for their products or services.
Some industries have seen a spike in sales because they seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
Computers, pharmacies, health food stores, health care providers, flour companies, grocery stores, cleaning suppliers, pet stores, hardware centres, liquor stores, virtual meeting services and online gaming and trading are among those experiencing incredible growth during this unprecedented time.
I have had some clients tell me that they were able to grow sales 10, 20, 50 and even 80 per cent.
However, having the best year ever doesn’t automatically mean that your sales grew.
I had some business leaders tell me that they were having a great year because they were able to tap into government subsidies which went directly to their bottom line and resulted in their most profitable months ever. This was the exception rather than the rule though.
Most people who took advantage of the government subsidies for their businesses found that that the money enabled them to survive during a period that they couldn’t get through without help.
There were some incredible opportunities afforded to those who took the time to use the slow down as a time to focus on their businesses.
Some people were able to use the time to reach out and develop better relationships with their prospective clients and found that these people had time to talk to them because their competitors, and anyone else for that matter, stopped calling.
If you are the only one phoning people when all others are huddled up in fear or frozen by inaction, you might just gain an advantage in the months and years ahead.
I had one business owner, who chose to close down his business for a couple of months, tell me that he used the time for a well-deserved rest which made a huge difference for him.
Another non profit found that they were able to reset their business and took the time to break down their business model and create something totally different enabling them to thrive into the future.
More than one of the business owners I work with struggled in finding motivation through what was a drought in cash flow.
Some of them persisted despite the hardships of working remotely, without team engagement, and with fewer contracts.
One in particular used the time to put in 30 proposals for work. However, because of particularly stiff competition, he lost many of his bids. Finally, with his hope waning, he was awarded one of the largest contracts of his career.
In hindsight, 2020 will be remembered as one of the strangest and most difficult years for many business leaders.
If it isn’t your best year ever, the great news is that you have almost six months left to make it your best year ever!
But nothing happens without action.
Don’t leave it to chance.
Come up with a plan both personal and professionally for what you need to do that would allow you to say that 2020 was a great year.
Break it down into 12-week sections and get your team engaged in making your successful year happen.
— Dave Fuller, MBA, is an Award-Winning Business Coach and the author of the book Profit Yourself Healthy. Best or Worst Year Ever? Dave would love to hear about it. Email dave@pivotleader.com
