5 Reasons 2009 Will Be Your Best Year Yet!

2008 is coming to a close. Are you ready to make 2009 your best year yet?

Did your eyes just bug out? I'm serious, 2009 is an incredible time to have your best year in business. The key is to recognize the opportunities that are out there and PLAN to succeed.You will not get there without a clear roadmap, but with the right navigation tools in place, you can take on market share that others have left ripe for the picking. I recently met with a client and I believe he will cross the $1M mark for the first time in 2009-and that will include growth of almost $500,000.00 in sales. How is that possible? Because he's ready and he recognizes the opportunities that lie ahead. You, too, can have your best year in 2009 and I will tell you how!

1. Less Confusion in the MarketplaceGuess what? Due to all of the fear out there, people are cutting back, even if they don't need to. That' s what fear does-it causes people to panic and make decisions based on lack, not on opportunity. However, that can be a great thing for you and your business because there is less confusion out there in the marketplace. If you are the person who is available and excited about your product or service, guess who others are going to want to do business with? That's right, YOU! So, get out of your comfort zone and get out there! And remember, focus on solving the problems of your target clients and your business will flourish!

2. There is an Incredible Opportunity to Stand Out!Since there is less confusion in the marketplace, this is your chance to define yourself as the expert and truly SHINE! Liz Goodgold, in Conversations and Coffee (a benefit of Sales Coach Now) shared how important it is to promote yourself as the expert in your field or in the company that you work for. Right now is the best time to do that because others will really take notice! It was not a coincidence that I decided to launch Sales Coach Now within the last month. I recognized the opportunity that was there because others have pulled back. What can you do to stand out in 2009?

3. You can Create a More Profitable Business!Everyone wants more clients right now so there is an incredible opportunity to negotiate better prices for your business. Sometimes people "feel bad" about this and wonder if it is the right thing to do. However, your business can become even more profitable in 2009 simply because you are reducing and restructuring your costs. This is a great time, for example, to negotiate with your landlord to see if they might give you some type of price break for being a great tenant and always paying on time. Or, if you are thinking about taking space on and you have carefully considered how you will afford it, it is an excellent time to negotiate a lease for space. Or perhaps you have even thought about buying commercial space-this is a great time to buy! Print out your P&L, sit down with your CPA and your attorney and think about all the ways you can cut costs and have an even more profitable 2009!

4. You have Committed to "Seeing" the Opportunities! The opportunities are there but if you are only focusing on the doom and gloom you will miss them! Changing your mind set to accept the fact that things are different in the marketplace it important, but you don't have to believe that this means things are "bad". The businesses that succeed will choose to "see" the opportunities that the change in the economy brings to them. Ask yourself this question, "Are there products or services that we can add that will help other businesses succeed in this economy? Do we need to change our packages to make them a better fit for our target clients?" The market is always changing and if you are paying attention right now there are ways that you can help other businesses-and increase your sales!

5. You are Prepared!A major key to your success in 2009 will be planning for it! Too many times I see people starting the New Year without even having completed projections! If you don't map out your entire year then you aren't planning to succeed. I encourage all of my clients to have a minimum goal for 2009 which means if they basically repeated what they did this year in terms of revenue, how could they make 2009 even more profitable? Then, I have them create a stretch goal for the next year while also carefully managing all of their costs. They are always amazed after doing the exercise because they realize that reaching their target goals was much easier than they had imagined. Take the time to put your projections in writing and go over them with a trusted advisor to make sure you didn't miss anything. 2009 is just brimming with possibilities for you and your business.

Decide, right now, that 2009 will be your best year yet!

Ursula