As happens every year, the year has flown by and we are headed into a new year. 

Is your business ready for 2009? 

Are you, the CEO, company president or business owner, ready for 2009? 

What are your business plans for the New Year?  Have you made business plans for success or to just get by?  Have you evaluated what was successful and what was not so successful in 2008 – and why?  What are you going to do about those challenging issues in your business? Have you drawn up a business plan outline that will give you direction in the coming year?  Have you reviewed your workforce and the role each employee can play toward achieving business success in 2009?  Have you given employees goals broken down weekly, monthly and quarterly as to what you expect from them?  Have you given yourself goals as to what you expect of yourself? 

When making business goals for 2009, make sure the goals are realistic – particularly with the ongoing economic downturn.  This isn’t a business exercise you should do quickly.  Give it a great deal of thought.  Find an opportunity for some quiet time when you will be uninterrupted.  Then let your mind, in an organized way, wander through everything important to the success of your business. Put your thoughts on paper.  Then go back in a day or two; review and edit your notes.  Once satisfied with what you have written down, don’t just stash your notes in a briefcase or in a desk drawer. Each month of 2009, review and update your plan for success as needed. 

2009 will only be a good business year if you plan for it.  Anyone can be a success in a booming economy.  But it will take a real business person who plans to be a success in 2009.