This year has started off really rough. I joked to a friend the other day that, if the first two weeks are any indication, 2013 isn’t going to be so fun.
I was sick during the holidays so I didn’t do my normal New Year’s planning. I haven’t even blogged about my goals.
Instead I’ve been sucked into this thing we call life and haven’t taken the time to sit back and think.
2011 was a terrible year for us. I really thought we’d have to shutter the doors. They say strength comes from crisis and, though it didn’t feel that way at the time, it trained me to be a better business person.
Now I watch the important things (cash flow, client satisfaction, employee morale, new sales) like a hawk and spend less time worrying about how people will feel when I make decisions best for the health of the organization (admittedly, though, I could do an even better job with this).
I also do a fairly decent job of stepping back and thinking. Of seeing the forest for the trees.
Until this year. This year we were launched into pure craziness and, while it’s only been two weeks, the strategy side of things is faltering.
So I’m taking a step back and reviewing my goals here.
I’ve found, when I do that, you hold me accountable and, as the leader of an organization, I need someone (or many of you) to do that.
2013 Business Goals
Many people use “three words” to create their New Year’s resolutions. I prefer to think of them as goals. Mine are: Coach, delegate, productivity.
It’s been a very long time since Arment Dietrich has had an entirely new staff. With the exception of Patti Knight, everyone has been here less than a year.
What I’ve discovered that means is I have to spend more time coaching, teaching them the way we do things, and reshaping the things that are important: Client service, strategy, and results.
As well, with a new team, I spent a lot of time last year doing the things I shouldn’t be doing, including some very typical account executive work. Sure, I can do it and I’m very good at it (I should be by this point, no?), but, if I’m going to spend my time with clients, it should be on high-level thinking and not on the tactics.
Therefore, this year I am going to delegate any work that clients won’t pay my full rate to do. That’s not where my value lies and, if I continue to do it, my team won’t learn to do it, which means I’m not accomplishing goal number one.
This last one is a biggie. Last year, I averaged 17 hours a day. I can blame it on the Marketing in the Round tour and my speaking schedule, but I was not good last year at shutting it down and recharging.
This year, productivity means working no more than 12 hour days, which I’ve already failed at (miserably), but this is a good reminder. It means I have to get all of the work done in five hours less a day. I think I can do it because I won’t be on a plane but once a month this year.
Of course, we have business goals that are separate from what you see here. These are just for my own growth.
2013 Personal Goals
This is a new category for work. Last year, I read a study that shows sitting at your desk for long period of times is more harmful for you than smoking.
So we’re having a little contest at work to see who can achieve their fitness goals this year. The catch? We have to work out in the middle of the day, which requires each of us to break up the hours we’re sitting at our desks.
My goals are to ride 5,000 miles this year (at 185, as of yesterday) and to take pilates three times a week (missed one day this past week).
So there you have it. I’m very goal-oriented, particularly if I make them public. Thank you for indulging me.
What are your career and personal goals for the year?
P.S. Today is my mom’s birthday. Wish her a happy day!