New year, new resolutions

I know it’s late for this, but hey, the idea popped into my head now. As we enter 2009, a lot of questions surround the general business landscape. But what are you doing to answer them? What are your business resolutions for the new year?

Kick ass

Simple enough, right? But let me expand upon kicking ass. I have found that it is simpler, more accurate and more rewarding to set micro-goals. Treat each task as an individual challenge and you will soon find that the end result will be better than you could have hoped for.

By simplifying and refining your goals, it will be easier to kick ass. And you’re kicking ass more often, which feels pretty good too.

Know your surroundings

Take a couple of hours and set up an RSS aggregator to monitor the fire hose of information that is pointed at your brain. Subscribe to new blogs and even delete a few of the old subscriptions. Google Reader or Yahoo Pipes makes it pretty simple to organize the information down to whatever level you want.

When you have your information coming at you in a controlled manner, it is easier to monitor trends, react to market demands and keep tabs on competitors. Which helps you stay ahead of the curve.

Participate

I can’t say enough about how important it is to be involved. Be involved with your users, your partners and your competitors. It is not necessary to have every conversation occur about you or your product, but it is pretty important to participate in almost every conversation.

By participating in events, blog posts and conversations, you are able to build a reputation and relationships that will only benefit you.

Enjoy life

I am a proponent of a work/life balance. I am hearing more and more stories of people burning out from trying to stay ahead of the curve. Don’t forget to enjoy life. If you have non-work hobbies, embrace them. If you have a family, embrace them. If you have a garden, embrace it.

So, what are your resolutions? What steps will you take to ensure your success for the next 12 months?