End of the year brings reflection

WHEN I was a kid, Christmas couldn't come soon enough.

My recollection was that my childhood (and in particular, my time at school) dragged by like a Galapagos Turtle making its way up a steep beach.

The expectancy over the coming celebration (more specifically the presents) added more weight to the turtle's back.

Then back that up with Christmas Eve - the longest night when you waited for Santa and had several unscheduled visits from your parents, getting increasingly perturbed and frustrated at each visit as the night wore on. "Get to sleep Russell" the catch cry of the night.

Now, it seems that no sooner is one Christmas in the bag and another is upon us. Adulthood wasn't meant to pass this quickly - was it?

My guess of the reasoning, behind the increased speed with which one year passes into another, is that our lives are full to capacity with business and busy-ness.

I've been asked an awful lot in the about how I see the next year and what my advice would be for certain businesses going into the new year.

There is no hard and fast answer to that because the business community is an intricate web of interdependent parts and the story for one business will differ from another just purely because of the different frames of reference brought to bear.

For me, the year ahead holds exciting opportunities which weren't there last year. I think we all should be open to new ideas and directions. And changes in the economy will bring forth these for both your own business and the Wanganui economy.

There are people, businesses and organisations who will, in 2013, deliver real value to their customers and community - the important thing here is that they stick to the path of improvement in the New Year and not be distracted by what the environment throws at them.

One of my clients said to me in Auckland last week, that when it came to their current revenue streams, they 'hoped for the best, but were prepared for the other stuff'. And in response to the 'other stuff' we are helping them develop a completely new business line - and the early signs are excellent - through being strategic the core of that business will be completely different in 2013 (and more resilient and sustainable).

And while I am glad that a short holiday awaits, I can look back on this year and be really satisfied with how it has turned out. But in addition to this I have learnt some lessons along the way which will stand me in good stead for 2013 and beyond.

I've also really enjoyed helping people achieve their potential and taking their businesses to new levels.

The end of the year presents an ideal opportunity to recap and recognise opportunities to grow, and that is what I would encourage you all to do as another calendar year goes into the books.

Zenith Solutions is a Wanganui-based management consulting practice. It specialises in providing strategic planning, business process improvement and financial management services. Contact russell@manageable.co.nz or phone 021-244-2421.