16 Dec What’s your business focus word for 2020?
The start of a new year is an opportune time to reflect and plan. Further to setting goals for your small business, it can be helpful to have a focus word to guide you through the year. A focus word can be better than setting New Year’s resolutions, but it may not be any quicker! You will need to contemplate the direction you want to take and what is most important for your business in the coming year.
Types of focus words
The word may be inspirational. You may want to ‘overcome’, ‘explore’ or ‘bloom’. An inspirational word can keep you motivated and energised.
It could be a word to guide your actions. You may be focused on business ‘growth’, being ‘productive’, or ensuring you ‘listen’ more. These are great pragmatic cues.
The word may also be an intention about the way you want to approach your work. You may want to be more ‘fearless’ or ‘vulnerable’, or to have more ‘balance’ between your work and personal life.
You don’t have to have an obvious word. You might go for something more symbolic or obscure. One year I had the word ‘tea’. I chose it not just because I love to drink tea, but because I knew I had to get out more and network and connect with people. And this is usually over a cup of tea (or coffee!).
If you are looking to be more courageous and fierce in your business you could use the word ‘lion’. Or your focus word could be ‘arrow’, symbolising having direction and moving forward.
Choosing a focus word
Step 1: Contemplate the priority goals of your business, the direction you are heading in, and improvements you want to make in 2020. Jot down some key points.
Step 2: Brainstorm words that appeal to you and align with your thinking in step 1. You can use our list below for inspiration and to find some words that resonate. You might like to think about more symbolic words that encapsulate the traits or actions you want to focus on.
Step 3: Pare back your list to two or three words. Try them out for a couple of days and see which one really fits.
Step 4: Print out the word (or a picture or icon if it’s a visual word) and stick it up in your office or on your fridge, make it your phone or computer background, or put it wherever else you will see it to keep it top of mind throughout the year.
Our suggestion – ‘beyond’
Naturally a favourite focus word of ours is ‘beyond’. Beyond your comfort zone. Beyond self-limits. Beyond what you can achieve on your own. If you want to take your business beyond in 2020, why not join us? Our next intake starts 1 February. Find out more info on our details page.
100 words to get you started
Here are some word ideas to get you started. Best wishes for a successful year ahead in your business!
