As I have officially delivered my last workshop, for this year, it is time to start planning for next year! I feel positive and welcome the time to reflect, celebrate and plan. We have done the normal business planning which is always an ongoing, adapting process, and we have set some new goals, as you’d expect.
On reflection, the year has been good. We have been busy enough and also hit some of our targets regarding income and days delivered. I feel positive for next year and really appreciate everything from this year.
A celebration for me is that, finally, our driveway will be completed today. It has taken me all year to get it up the priority list and save the cash to do this – result!
On the planning side of life, I have some different things I want to achieve in 2019. The Ironman era is over, and next year is a cycling year. I have two main events that have been booked already and the training has started again for these. The holidays and breaks away have been booked and are in the diary, Holland, Wales, Spain and Turkey – all committed to!
I feel that having these events, to look forward to, will keep me motivated throughout the year.
Having said that this time of year has not always been a pleasant experience, being self employed can cause it to be a frustrating, tense time. Businesses seems to slow down for the festive season, no decisions are made and budgets have either run out or are being negotiated for the next year. Sometimes, there is nothing in the diary for the following year and I remember spending time worrying about being able to pay the mortgage in the following months, it has made Christmas a stressful time.
I’ve tried to hide the worries from my family, so they wouldn’t notice that I was distracted by the lack of cash flow! The facade of a brilliant, stress-free life, is something that quite a few people portray, but the reality can be something completely different. I know that this is not something that only happens to self employed people and it can be driven by many things in our lives. The impact of negative pressure can have a cascade effect, so needs to be ‘nipped in the bud’
If you are feeling the stress of Christmas building up, then there are quite a few things you can do to ease the pressure. I watched Martin Lewis on TV making suggestions for looking after your cash at Christmas. Click here to watch video
I know that, lack of cash, is only one cause of pressure, but, if you can reduce that, it could have a knock on effect on other pressures – which might just lighten the load a bit….
Have a great week.