It’s a brand-New Year. May it be a healthy, happy and prosperous one for you all!

We have all spent Christmas relaxing with our families and over-indulging in festive cheer. Before we go back to the day job, we will have decided what resolutions we are going to make, and probably break, before January is out.

For me those considerations start, and possibly finish, with me thinking about my business and what I can do with it in order to improve my lot. There are always two schools of thought – take it easier or work harder. Many of my friends and family, all of whose opinions I respect, suggest that I should concentrate on the former, but it’s never simple to tear yourself away from the job you love – maybe I’m the minority, but I enjoy my work and want to continue to do so for a while yet.

Perhaps we should work smarter
Perhaps then I need to work smarter, rather than harder, in order to allow me to follow that advice to take it easier. So that’s where my resolutions come in and maybe it’s where you should be thinking about yours too.

The answers are not rocket-science; they have been around for years. For example:

• Personal time management – avoiding distractions and those time-stealers.
• Delegation – using the skills of those around you, who are probably more able than you allow them to be.
• Technology – in a modern world it’s unavoidable, but you need to control its influence rather than let it dictate to you.
• Playing to your strengths – which is so much more rewarding than counting the cost of time wasted on things you are not good at.
• Recharging the batteries – the human ones are no longer lasting then the ones in your camera, alarm clock etc.

Think about it and put it into practice. You will enjoy yourself, be more popular with the family and friends, and almost certainly make more money.

However you do it, have a fabulous 2016.