The 7 Things I Do Every December to Set My Business Up for the Year Ahead

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Key Takeaways

A protracted-standing annual ritual helps a small enterprise proprietor replicate on the previous 12 months, make clear priorities and put together thoughtfully for what’s forward.
By way of deliberate planning, private accountability and significant connections, the method brings perspective, stability, and renewed focus with out counting on inflexible techniques.

I’ve been operating a small enterprise for greater than 20 years. Over that point, I’ve developed some routines. One routine occurs annually right now. Throughout December, I’m trying forward and pondering of the subsequent 12 months. I make my plans. I make a number of 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 12 months.

Worker bonuses

Earlier than the 12 months is over, I attempt to be sure that all of my staff and contractors who impression my enterprise have been evaluated, linked and obtain my appreciation. I ship money bonuses to every of them. It’s a discretionary bonus that I provide you with yearly based mostly on income and I’m cautious to be sure that the bonus is rarely lower than it was the earlier 12 months, until income are so dangerous 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 a number of distant staff, I do the bonuses electronically, however nonetheless ship the cardboard.

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Worker evaluations

As a result of my enterprise is completely digital and plenty of of my persons are positioned all through the world, I’ve stopped doing vacation events. Nonetheless, I make it some extent to examine in earlier than the 12 months is over with all staff with a casual analysis simply to ensure they’re getting good (and constructive) suggestions they usually know the place they stand going into the subsequent 12 months. I take this time additionally to determine a number of objectives for the upcoming calendar 12 months (i.e., chargeability, income era, shopper service rankings, training certificates, and so on.) with every particular person so they’re clear how they’ll be evaluated within the coming 12 months and might benchmark themselves.

Items

Proper after Thanksgiving, I draw up an inventory of individuals whom I need to thank for doing enterprise with me through the 12 months. They’re purchasers, potential purchasers, suppliers, companions and other people within the media. I normally ship sweets from Godiva or a present basket, and I hold the price range to about $35 per particular person. There are normally about 50 individuals on this record, so you are able to do the maths. There’s additionally time concerned by my assistant to coordinate all of the ordering. Which implies there’s a price. However it’s price it. I begin with final 12 months’s record and modify it. I get numerous pleasure in doing this. And I repeatedly hear again from individuals saying thanks, and I do know it’s appreciated. It’s not a lot, but it surely’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 price range. However I do put together a forecast. That is a web based spreadsheet and for my eyes solely. It takes me a number of days to work on annually right now. I revisit compensation and different prices to ensure 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 so on. — 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 12 months and displays each direct and administrative prices related to that work, together with a projected web revenue for the 12 months. This fashion, I’ve my numbers clear heading into the brand new 12 months and I do know what I’ve to realize.

Resolutions

New Yr’s resolutions are corny. However they’re helpful. Presently of 12 months, I make resolutions. For instance, on this coming 12 months, I’m resolving to fulfill sure of my distant staff in particular person as soon as 1 / 4, even when meaning 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 current 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 robust contender too.

Additionally, I’m committing to taking up a number of tasks which might be out of my consolation zone as a result of — though I’m risking profitability and even my status — it’s the one method to develop, and it retains one’s thoughts very lively with new challenges. I attempt to hold these resolutions to a small quantity in order that they’re achievable.

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Private objectives

Moreover my enterprise resolutions, I do make a number of private objectives for myself annually. That normally revolves round sustaining a sure weight, exercising repeatedly, 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 find it irresistible) or taking a household trip or taking a course in one thing I like. These objectives not solely give me one thing to stay up for but in addition hold my head balanced between enjoyable stuff and work stuff.

Doc

A very powerful factor about forecasting, purpose setting, and creating resolutions is accountability. None of this issues if you happen to’re not holding your self accountable to your commitments. To that finish, I create a process in my calendar utility to “examine in” on all of these items on the finish of every quarter. I’ve come to stay up for doing this when the duty comes up on my to-do record for the day. It’s a method to remind me of all that I’ve deliberate to do within the present 12 months and provides me a reset as to the place issues stand.

By the tip of the 12 months, it’s fascinating to see simply how a lot I completed and the way reasonable all of my objectives have been. I hold 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 stunned 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 respect what’s previously. It helps me put together for the longer term. For those who’re a enterprise proprietor like I’m, I strongly recommend doing one thing comparable. It really works.