Spring has finally arrived, with bells on!
The winter has seemed especially long and difficult for many of our clients this year, with illnesses and bad weather taking their toll on the business.
Many of my clients who have been struggling through the cold months have arrived in my office with a new lease of life in the last few days.
I can’t help wondering if there must be something in the air. We live in a 24-hour world of lighting, heating and non-stop connection; we are not governed by nature in the way that we used to be. However, our bodies and minds still behave in the same way, and it can help if we use this to our advantage, rather than fight against it.
Every business is cyclical, going through constant phases of growth, review and repair. This is an essential and ongoing process. However, some of your planning processes to take account of the changing seasons might provide a new perspective on why you do things when you do.
Think of your business as a garden. There may be the odd storm to weather but, on the whole, it will best flourish if we do certain things at the specific times.
Spring – planting
The nights are getting lighter, flowers are in bloom and suddenly everything seems full of new potential. Those ideas that may have been cut back last year start to reappear, and it’s the perfect time to plant new ones.
Spring is an ideal time for medium to long-term goal setting, initiating new plans, product launches and ideas for new services. It’s a natural time for ideas and growth.
It’s vital that these new ideas come with their own goals, objectives and systems for testing and measuring. Make sure you give yourself enough time to establish the processes to get them running smoothly.
There’s a good reason why the financial year runs April to March. It’s based on the old Ecclesiastical calendar which saw the New Year begin on 25th March, which seems far more sensible.
It’s time to emerge from hibernation too. Often, we go to ground in winter, preferring to stay indoors or isolate ourselves. Spring is the time to get back out there; go networking, find new events to attend, talk to your contacts. Who knows what new opportunities are waiting for you when you go looking for them?
Summer – growth
Summer is the time for maximum growth. All of the ideas and plans we have planted in spring will be coming into bloom and the long days and short nights mean we have plenty of energy to see them through.
Although people think of summer as a time for relaxation or taking time off, it’s actually a fantastic time to work hard see your business grow.
Keep a close eye on what’s going on. Continue to review and revise your plans. Things can easily grow out of control and become unwieldy without the right systems in place. You will have set your targets and be measuring them regularly, so you will be easily able to see where the pressure points are.
Autumn – harvest
Autumn is a time for harvest, and so in business it’s a good time for collection and reflection. Take stock of everything you have achieved over the summer. Maybe take some time out to get a fresh perspective.
Which plans have worked for you over the year and brought the results you wanted? Some many need cutting back, reshaping or re-evaluating completely.
Calculate your ROI, and take a look at whether they have been truly worth the time and investment you’ve put into them.
With the tracking you will have been doing since you put those ideas in place, you’ll be perfectly placed to take an honest and informed view, and tweak those plans so you can achieve what you need to before the end of your year.
Autumn is also the time to prepare the ground. Winter is coming. Just like the roads and the railways, we know that winter arrives every year and so we can plan ahead for the challenges that particular season brings.
Winter – restore
If nature had its way, we’d probably be spending as much time lying in the back of a cave under a blanket as possible in winter. And indeed that’s what a lot of us want to do.
Sadly the modern world isn’t so keen, work needs to be done and for some businesses, particularly retail, it’s the busiest time of the year. Make sure you look after yourself and remember that you’re going to need a little more physical rest than you did in July.
If it’s a quieter time for you, use the time to finish off projects that are still lingering and clear away as much as you can. Work out where the bare patches in your business are, what is going to need more attention and what you’re going to do to ensure the year finishes looking how you wanted it to, and is primed for even better growth next year.
Even taking Christmas out of the equation, winter is a time of illness, bad weather closures, and many other unforeseen circumstances. You can’t prepare for every eventuality, but you can prepare for some. Factor in some breathing space so that everyone is raring to go, and bursting with new ideas when Spring comes around again.
Prepare for the unexpected
Flexibility is the key, and every business will have its own cycles, routines and traditions. I’m not for a minute suggesting that these things can only be done at certain times of the year.
Opportunities come along at the most random of times and we must be quick to respond.
A calendar of planning, planting, growth, reflection and restoration will provide an ideal framework to make sure you are ready for anything, whatever the time of year.
What do you think? Do you work better at certain times of year and would it help you to plan accordingly? Or do we all need to just crack on?
At ActionCOACH, we will help your business thrive, providing you with the skills and planning tools to make your vision a reality.
Our Growth Clubs are held every three months and perfectly placed to review your previous season and plan out the next one. You’ll spend the day sharing ideas and experiences with other successful businesses in the room, and then put together your 90 day action plan to take home with you.
Get in touch to book your place on GrowthCLUB, your free consultation, or a free taster workshop.
