How to make 2012 YOUR most Prosperous Year –

 10 Ideas

Are you thinking like an entrepreneur and creating a list that will maximize your chances of success?  The list should go something like this:

In 2012 I will:

1.      Talk more about my business.  I will not keep ALL my thoughts to myself.  Technology is changing the way people and clients gather information; make decisions, execute on them, with profound changes for businesses. 

2.     Be less trusting.  I will recognize that my investors’ motivations are not necessarily aligned with mine.  They have one job, which is to protect their total capital:  not my capital, their capital.  My company may be immaterial to the overall welfare of their portfolio.  I will recognize this in managing my company, managing my growth and raising capital.  I will test their logic and structure my relationships with them to avoid conflicts or the inherent conflicts and govern myself accordingly.

3.     Be more wily.  I will be judicious about what thoughts I share, and with whom.  I will under-promise and over-deliver rather than succumb to the opposite in seeking to please others.  I will not be a martyr.  I will look after my own interests in addition to those of my family, clients, and friends.  This is both moral and fair.

4.     Paint more by the numbers.  I will create and run my business to a budget, and not just a budget that is cranked out once a year.  I will keep it simple and use it to see how my business is changing, for better and for worsee. 

5.     Stay clear-headed about governance.  I will focus on critical governance issues and set corporate objectives with a clear head and due diligence.  I will commit resources to proper governance.

6.     Create a brighter line between my personal affairs and the business.  I will talk with the appropriate professional people about this issue, to see what is reasonable.

7.     Communicate better; with my family, friends,andmy clients.  I will make the effort to be as clear and concise as possible and elaborate when time is available.                                                                      

 8.     Listen to advice but keep my centre.  I will not my business model change willy nilly.  I won’t resist change, but I will not make changes easily or reflexively.  I know that once I lose my centre, I become just another onlooker for the ride.  After all, this is my business career and I own my career.

9.     Have some kind of interest outside the company.  Something that takes my mind off the business and allows ideas to come to me spontaneously, and allows me to reboot.  Music comes to mind and this allows me to rest and focus on pleasure.

10.             Understand the Web and social media better.   Much is trendy, a waste of time and resources but not all of it.  I will focus with a positive attitude and learn what is worthwhile.  This will result in a secure feeling about the future.

These are some of my thoughts which I have shared with you and from a column by:

Brad Cherniak, Capital Insight, earlier this month. 

 May I take this opportunity to wish you a Peaceful, Loving, Healthy and Prosperous Year!