Resolutions for Entrepreneurs

Brand new year, brand new business

alt As the new year is approaching fast, it's time to look back on 2009 and decide what worked, what didn't and what else still needs to be done.

This is particularly important for small-business owners who need to be ahead-of-the-curve to compete.

Chandra Clarke, founder, co-owner and president of Scribendi.com - an online editing and proofreading business - offered five important resolutions women entrepreneurs should consider as they ring in the New Year.

1. Find a way to clone yourself.

"As women, we're used to handling everything by ourselves," said Clarke - something she was guilty of early on in her career.

She advises women to stop being martyrs and to "bring more people on board."

"It doesn't need to be a one-woman stop," she said.

She noticed that once she established a team around her, business "really started to take off," she said.

2. Look hard at your current goals. Are they clear? Specific? Defined?

When making goals, avoid vagueness, said Clarke. If your goal is to make a million dollars - that's not clear enough. Think about it as how you're going to make a million and break that down.

"Unless you clearly define what you want, you don't know exactly how to get there," said Clarke.

3. Reach out to current customers.

You've already established a strong customer base, so don't use energy trying to rope in some new ones - particularly in this economic climate with more companies reducing their budgets, said Clarke.

"New customers are expensive," she said.

So think of creative ways to keep your current customers happy.

4. Back it all up!

"How long has it been since your last data back-up?" asks Clarke.

Take some time to back-up everything from your computer to your Blackberry to your client lists.

"If you're not doing it, you're asking for trouble," she said. You should be prepared for any possible disasters.

5. Get your business slim and trim.

Take it to the gym - so to speak. A new year isn't just an excuse for us to get into shape, your business should be too.

"Business weight-loss," Clarke calls it. Look at your current procedures and determine ways to streamline them and make them better. Constantly evolving your methods and keep their concise will set your business apart which is especially important for smaller ones.

Chandra Clarke is a pioneer in the male-dominated field of computer-programming. She founded Scribendi.com in 1997 after getting fed up with too many errors in press releases. The site provides 24/7 editing and proof-reading services for anything from essays, to projects, to theses and more. It's for students and business leaders alike.

By Jessica Ireland

Jessica Ireland
		About the author:
		Jessica Ireland is a “spark.” After receiving that nickname from a past co-worker, her electrifying passion and determination to produce creative ideas that people can relate to still remains an important part of her work today. She has been published in Vervegirl and B’zone magazines, The London Free Press, Prospere Magazine, and The Windsor Star. She’s currently involved in the communication and PR industry, and maintains a blog http://magazineobsessed.vox.com about the state of magazines today. She also has her eyes on new marketing campaigns, branding, social media and all things popular culture. Jessica believes style transcends trends, and that the good china should be used everyday.
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