Out with the old, in with the new... Changing your daily habits is the ultimate deep cleanse for your business

We’re already at the end of January: So, how are you doing with those New Year’s resolutions?   I’m still hearing people talk about reorganizing, streamlining, detoxing. But just how do you get there—how do you make those self-promises (or goals) stick?

I contend that this year, I’m “making healthy a habit.”  And that goes beyond the obvious healthy habits of eating clean, exercising and keeping up with regular checkups.  For me, making healthy a habit means making conscious choices/changes in my daily routine that will exhibit a positive change in my everyday life. Think about that concept—it’s a simple incentive that I’ve incorporated into various area of my life.

Making healthy a habit in your business starts with a look in the mirror—or an honest self-assessment. You might want to consider these questions to help lose the flab and shape up your business:

--Have I communicated my vision and goals for 2015 with my employees? Do they feel a part of that effort? Are they inspired?

--How often have I randomly reached out to current clients? When was the last time I picked up the phone and asked them how we’re doing? (the same goes for suppliers)

--Are my compliance standards up to date? Could my team benefit from additional training?

--What areas of my business performed below expectations in 2014? What changes can I implement today to change that course for the year ahead?

--What areas of my business performed well this past year? Celebrate those victories—and then identify ways to replicate that success in other departments, territories, with new product lines, etc.

Again, making healthy a habit is a deliberate choice: It’s a change in mindset that offers great dividends. One resource about changing habits that I go back to time and again is The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. I wrote a blog about the book a few months back; and you’ll also find more about it at www.charlesduhigg.com.

You might consider tossing your new-year’s pledges, and instead, work toward starting a revolution with your habits. It’s never too late to start.