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One writer shares how she’ll make improvements to grow her small business this year. Discover what she’ll focus on to boost her productivity and income.
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The start of a new year is an excellent time to consider what business goals you’ll tackle in the months ahead. In December, I thought about what I wanted to do with my freelance business in 2024. I’m happy with where my business stands now, but I want to improve to feel more satisfied, be more productive, and do better financially. I’m happiest when I’m learning and growing everyday. Here’s how I intend to level up my business this year.
1. Improve my workflow and day-to-day processes
I want to improve how I structure my days and weeks and overall workflow. I’m planning to experiment with apps and tools to better plan each day, use my time more efficiently, and keep myself better organized.
So far, I’ve been playing around with Notion, a web-based note-taking and productivity app. Developing a better routine and workflow will result in me wasting less time when I could be working.
2. Be more intentional about the work I take on
Throughout the last year, I’ve gotten better at being more selective with the type of work that I do. I want to continue putting effort into this, so I’m not taking on projects I later regret. I know the kind of work that fits my interests and abilities, so I plan to continuously remind myself of that when new opportunities come my way.
Not every project is for me — and that’s okay. In the past, I’ve taken on work that I ended up dreading, and I found it took much longer to do and caused added stress, which impacted my personal finances and well-being. Being more intentional about the projects I take on will result in me putting out my best work and feeling more satisfied overall.
3. Grow my community
I’ve met many other freelancers in person and online during my career. It’s been fun watching everyone’s journey unfold as we stay connected over the years. This year, I want to continue to build my network of fellow freelancers. I want to surround myself with others willing to lend support and who are comfortable sharing their struggles and goals.
Freelance life can sometimes be lonely, so I need to make it a point to continue building these relationships. Finding more freelancers who have similar goals will be helpful. We can share what’s working and what’s not to help each other grow. I don’t want to stagnate, and surrounding myself with others who feel similarly will help me challenge myself.
4. Set clear boundaries and communicate them effectively
Boundaries are another thing I plan to work on more this year. I’ve been getting better at being firm about my personal and professional boundaries — but I still have work to do.
I will remain clear about how much I’m willing and able to work and how much time I need to step away from work to be healthy and refreshed. I’m a former workaholic, so it’s taken me years to learn how to rest. But I’m committed to establishing firm boundaries and communicating them better with those in my professional sphere so we’re all on the same page.
Leveling up my business will likely be a win for my finances
My efforts will not only help me make my business better but also benefit my checking account. Finding ways to improve my freelancing business can make it easier for me to boost my earnings.
If you’re a small business owner, you might consider finding areas of improvement to focus on in 2024. Being open to making changes can result in greater success.
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