It’s that time of year where we shed our winter coats and look forward to the warmer weather and longer days of Spring. Here in the US we “spring forward” into daylight savings time.

As business owners, our clocks aren’t the only things that should be moving forward. There are several areas where we can get a head start, and Spring is a good time to get a jump on these segments of your business.

Get a jump on your business systems. It is important to regularly evaluate the various tools, systems and programs you use in your day-to-day operations. Are you as organized and efficient as you should be for maximum results? Are you using outdated programs? Are you taking full advantage of the programs you use?

You don’t want to purchase expensive software, tools or learning programs only to let them sit unused or under-used until they are no longer effective. Make the most of these systems by using them fully or delegating these tasks to a specifically trained VA.

Get a jump on your reading. These days, everybody belongs to numerous mailing lists. You probably have quite a few books, newsletters and e-book courses you’ve purchased or signed up for but not had the time to read. The first thing you can do is to go through all your lists and materials to weed out the ones that aren’t relevant to your life and organize the ones that are.

Then, organize your time. Block out a reading time each week that you devote to catching up, and keeping up with necessary reading.

Get a jump on your money. Spring time is tax time and that’s one occasion when your mind will definitely be on financial matters. Your annual tax form is like a snapshot of the economic health of your business. You can see what your expenses are and how they affect your bottom line.

You can also see which areas or activities bring in the most, and the least. This means you know what to do more of and what you may need to consider letting go of, or delegating to someone else so that you can concentrate on more profitable activities.

Get a jump on your relationships. Micro-blogging and social networking sites can be a lot of fun and they can be very helpful in your business. They can also eat up a lot of time and blur your focus if you allow it. Keep your goals in mind when you spend time on these sites for business. Remember that the point is to form mutually beneficial relationships.

Jump into Spring with purpose and you’ll set the stage for a successful year.

The holiday season is a busy time for most; folks are rushing around trying to do so many things to celebrate the season. It is a time of cheerfulness and pleasure. It can also be a time of stress and exhaustion.
 

When you add all the shopping, cooking, wrapping, packing, mailing, errands and traveling to the already tight schedules of most entrepreneurs, it’s not difficult to soon reach a point of meltdown.
 

But there are ways to preserve the joy and traditions of this time of year without sacrificing your sanity or your health. Here are a few tips that might help:
 

1. Plan ahead. Knowing what you are (and aren’t) going to cook or buy or wear makes it easier to get things done because you don’t have to stress over decisions and you don’t need to argue over choices. It can also be a huge time saver when you combine errands or shopping into fewer trips.
 

2. Make a budget and stick to it. Giving and spending become very big issues during the holidays. Some people equate giving more with caring more, and some go into debt that takes all year to pay off.
 

3. Pay close attention to your charitable giving. Scammers know that this is a time of increased generosity and they are especially active during the holiday season. Carefully investigate any organization that asks for donations to make sure they are a legitimate aid organization.
 

4. Travel smart. The holiday season is peak travel time since everyone naturally wants to celebrate with friends and family. But in these times of heightened security measures its necessary to take a few precautions no matter how you plan to get there. If you’ll be flying, familiarize yourself with all the safety rules concerning packaging regulations and restricted items, and be sure to give yourself plenty of extra time just in case. Double check weather and schedules for other types of transportation to avoid last minute delays and cancellations. And drivers should allow plenty of time to deal with extra traffic. The idea is to arrive relaxed and ready for fun, not cranky and stressed.
 

5. Remember to be good to yourself. With all the cooking, shopping, wrapping, decorating and other tasks, holiday celebrations can be a lot of work. Take some time to enjoy family and friends. Share the preparations as well as the merriment, and get help when you need it.
 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.

As we get into fall, our thoughts naturally turn towards the joys of the coming season. We look forward to crisp cooler weather, celebrations, spending time with friends and family, and of course, the food. Thanksgiving will be here soon. It’s a time to remember and be grateful for the blessings of the past year. Most of us would include our businesses among those blessings.

Owning your own business allows you to pursue your passion and express your creativity.

And it also creates the opportunity for a certain amount of independence.

You can schedule working hours that are convenient for you and that take into account your family and other obligations. You can set policies in ways that make sense for your situation. You can be in charge.

And you have the opportunity to make money your way; possibly even more than you could make as a regular employee. Something else that we can and should have gratitude for is the customers that patronize your business.

No matter what business you’re in, you depend on the people who buy from you. Whether the economy is up or down, when people make the decision to spend their money with you, they deserve a little recognition and appreciation.

This is not to suggest that you need to go overboard passing out expensive gifts, discounts or other incentives. On the contrary, doing too much will make you seem needy or desperate and that tends to be a big turn-off to most prospects.

But in this era of extra careful shoppers coupled with declining customer service, you have a great opportunity to set yourself (and your business) apart from the competition with just a few simple steps.

Say thank you. It’s amazing how many clerks, salespeople and business owners forget this simple courtesy.

Remember names. It makes people feel special and appreciated when they know they are recognized.

Note special occasions. Your customers will know they are valued when they receive acknowledgement of birthdays, anniversaries or holidays. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate; a simple card or note is enough to let them you remembered and cared.

Give the unexpected extra. Again, this doesn’t and shouldn’t be anything big; just relevant and thoughtful.

Like the women’s sportswear company that tucks little motivational notes in the pockets of the coats and jackets they manufacture.