The start of the year is one of my favorite times of year. That brand new, shiny, sparkling clean slate you get once the clock strikes midnight on January 1st just gets to me! A new planner? Yes. A new notebook? Sign me up.

WIll I forget about these things in 2 weeks? Sure, but it’s the idea of it all. 

If you’re looking at 2023 as a big clean slate and wondering how you can make it “your best year yet” or whatever the kids are saying these days, I have a few ideas for you.

So today, I’m going to be sharing five things I’ve learned about starting the year on a good note — and how you can leverage these small actions for long-term growth in 2023 and beyond. 

#1: Create an annual plan

Most people think about this as a “vision board,” but what we’re talking about here is more like an itinerary. You can still go crazy at the craft store and stick pictures and stickers on a poster board if your heart so desires, though.

An annual plan that also forecasts income and profit is one of the best ways to clarify what you want to do during the year. Having overarching goals helps you break things down into smaller pieces that you do throughout the year with more ease.  

I like to start with a three to six-month plan once I’ve got those big ideas sorted out, then go from there. Then, I break down each goal to see what I can realistically get done within that chosen time frame and what I can expect to see from it (profit, brand awareness, more followers/subscribers, more course signups, etc.) And then I repeat it through the end of the year!

But remember — while planning and forecasting go a long way, they aren’t the be-all-end-all. You have total permission to adapt and change as things around you do as well! 

#2: Cut the comparisonitis

Comparison is the thief of all joy, and it will most definitely kill whatever it is you’re working on. When you’re focused on what other people are doing, you don’t have much time to focus on your own business. 

And aside from that, you have no idea what the behind-the-scenes looks like for those people. They may show you the pretty end result, but you don’t see the work it took to get there. So don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t where “they” are. You’re exactly where you need to be, and you’ll hit those goals in due time as long as you stay at it!

#3: Be annoying

I’m going to let you in on a little business secret…

If you aren’t annoyed with how much you’re showing up and talking about your offers/digital products, your audience probably hasn’t even heard of them. 

Reach on social media is low (because that’s just how the cookie crumbles, even if your social channels are doing amazing), and you’re not going to be able to reach your entire audience with one post. Even on better-reaching methods like email marketing, you still need to be annoying. 

Not everyone sees every message you send because they are busy with life, so you’ve got to put yourself out there to sell. Full stop!

#4: Look for ways to help others

In 2023, if your business isn’t set up to serve others, and serve them well, it’s bad news bears, buddy. 

Because we’re in a recession, people are going to be looking at how they spend their money differently. And if your products or services aren’t actually helping your audience, it’s going to be tough to make any money from it since they likely won’t have the extra funds to pay for something that’s not useful to them. 

How do you do this? By paying attention to the small things.

Keep your ear out for what your audience is saying online, and incorporate those desires into your offers. Think about the customer journey from start to finish, and look out for any points they may be getting stuck on. 

Showing you’ve thought about the small things shows not only that you care but also that you’ve thought through multiple issues, and it can comfort a potential customer enough to convert them. 

#5: Make sure your foundation is solid

I like to think of my biz as a Fortune 500 company, even though it’s mostly just a few contractors and me. 

What do I mean by this? 

I list out what needs to be done by each “department” and manage tasks accordingly, even with contractors. I know it will be me who does a lot of the work, but my business is that — a business, not a hobby, and I want to treat it as such. 

It also helps you prep for troubleshooting before it happens. You can see areas that might be in danger of breakdown before they actually do. In a giant company, you normally have teams of people doing this, but when it’s just you, it’s easy to miss those gaps. 

Think about it like this — your business ops are sort of like a pipe during the winter. You may not have any issues when it comes time for freezing weather, but you know to open those cabinet doors and let the faucets drip, just in case.

Why? Because that’s much easier than trying to recon a pipe that’s burst in the middle of a snowstorm! 

Your business is the same way. 

Need more 2023 motivation?

The most interesting and overlooked component of success is that it is 100% controllable. Yes, you heard me!

Everything is within your control to some degree. No, you can’t control what happens around you, but you can choose your perspective and the steps you take to pursue your goals. 

Success is an intangible reaction to the amount of time, effort, and passion we put into what we offer. 2023 is a new fresh year to pull all the insight you have and get the best head start on what can potentially be your best year! Getting overwhelmed, comparing ourselves, and having insecurities are a thing of the past!

You have all it takes to grab this new year by the reins and show the world and yourself what your business is made of. 

If you want even more advice on having a successful year in your business in 2023, check out this series I did with a few other entrepreneurs. 

These awesome peeps share their own advice — what’s worked and what hasn’t over the years — and what they plan to do differently in 2023. 

If you need more hype to get started on the right foot, I want to share a video my coach, Cathy Olson, created.