As you may have already learned about me, I tend to be a reflective kind of person. I'm fortunate to be able to spend time thinking about one thing or another which means that I spend a great deal of time thinking about business. I specifically enjoy the time that the dawn of a New Year gives me to think about business and how I plan to do things differently in the next year.
Over the past several decades our country has had some extremely interesting years, but none has been quite like 2020. I've seen many people asking the question that we should all be considering right now: what are the one or two best things that happened in 2020? If you can answer this question, then you are on the right track for 2021.
When you look back at your most recent year, whether it's for your business or for your personal life, I suggest that you look at the core values that guide your daily behaviors. Core Values, and adherence to them, is a smart way to gauge how you provide value to your interactions with customers. Looking back, or reflecting on your year, means that you are preparing yourself to be able to look forward to the upcoming year. I learned early in my career that you are only as good as your latest reporting period so by learning what you did well and adjusting what didn't go as well as you would have liked simply helps you produce better results next time.
Core Values are the fundamental beliefs of a person or organization. These guiding principles dictate behavior and can help people understand the difference between right and wrong. Core Values also help companies to determine if they are on the right path and fulfilling their goals by creating an unwavering guide. Some examples of core values are; Hope, Service, Faith, Honesty, Responsibility, Integrity, Justice and Truth. I think you will agree that the list can go on and on but it's important to know that the code by which you live your life, or run your business, is as unique to you as your own signature. You and I might both have Honesty and Service as core values in our lives but the unique slant that you bring to the mix is what differentiates us. According to HR.org, "Communication, Respect, Integrity and Excellence were among the core values of Enron, as stated in the company's 2000 annual report. And as events have shown, they're not meaningful; they're meaningless."
The value of reflection is not only learning what you could have done differently but applying what you have learned to a meaningful change in the future. When I was a child, I remember my mother sending me to my room because of some misbehavior that I had done, and she would admonish me to think about what I had done. I'm sure she was hoping that I would truly think about it and learn my lesson but that wasn't usually the case. It wasn't until much later in life that I began to look back on my behaviors and learn from them. Personal note: I still have never sent myself to bed without dinner!
In our role as the Chamber of Commerce we plan to spend this year working on behalf of our members by developing strategies that will help you grow and expand your business. Business Retention and Expansion will be a significant strategy in the 2021 chamber operations plan. We will work with Grant County, the Town of Silver City, Western New Mexico University and the Southwest Council of Governments to help strengthen the Economic Development in our territory. Be on the lookout for webinars and trainings which will be designed to help you grow your business or yourself. Happy New Year! We look forward to working with you.