As you work to grow your business or your own personal reputation within an organization or across an industry, it is important to be aware of the environment you operate within. Analysis and assessment of market trends, shifts and needs is essential for future growth and sustainability. As we all know, needs and demands change all the time, which is why it is essential to be nimble, flexible and able to react and respond quickly to market shifts. Furthermore, don’t be romantic about how you got to your current state as that is rarely what will take you and your business to the next level of performance, quality, value and revenues.

Keep innovating, keep challenging status quo and take risks.

Aalways play the long game when it comes to things that matter and are of importance to you. When it comes to family, health, career…it’s always important to look beyond today and think, plan and act intentionally toward creating your own future.

That time will come either way, will you be prepared when it does?

We all have goals, but how do you set the stage in order to achieve those goals? First, your major goals need to be measurable and large, very large! They need to be so monumental that they will keep you moving forward and making progress for years, even decades to come. When it comes to smaller goals, they generally come in all shapes and sizes so feel free to set your sights on the heights that matter to you.

Furthermore, while many have referred to the SMART acronym (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) when it comes to establishing goals, I am not necessarily a fan of all of it. Yes, goals, should be specific and measurable, but why do they have to be realistic and (easily?) achievable? See where I’m going with this? 😉 Dream big!

How many times have you heard: “it’s who you know!” as the reason or a justification why someone has made it or succeeded in some way. While it is important for you to get out there, network and meet new people, it’s even more important for them to know you.

If people know you as someone who is honest, trustworthy, capable, as someone who produces quality work, they will remember of you in the opportune time and make that call or send that text or e-mail.

Stop playing it safe, take risks, act and live your life to the fullest. You know what you dream of, what you think of when no one is around. Now, that you have spent months, frequently even years thinking about it, it’s time to take action and work towards those goals.

Failing to act is still a decision you have made. It is not an absence of one as it is often looked at by many people. Choosing not to make necessary changes and improvements, makes you complicit in maintaining the negative environment you might have inherited.

When you know that changes have to be made, make them!

Focus on your strengths, but embrace your weaknesses, be honest and transparent as both your strengths and your weaknesses make you the woman or a man that you are today.

Don’t blame your circumstances, change them, do something about it! We are all dealing with challenges, ranging from time, quality, people, funding, strategy, leadership…the list is endless. Whoever you blame for your shortcomings is the wrong person and that approach will get you nowhere in the long term.

Do the best with what you have and demonstrate and earn the right to get more, make more, earn more. You are in control of your life, your actions and your attitude and as such reach for new opportunities and go beyond what you have done before, try new things and challenge yourself.

Complaining is not a business strategy. While we all complain at times (rightfully so if I might add), it is essential to focus on reducing complaints and focusing on positive contributions and collaborative work towards solutions. Complaints on their own provide no value and often result in further negative approach to whatever the environment might be at the moment.