Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their very own.
Key Takeaways
A protracted-standing annual ritual helps a small enterprise proprietor replicate on the previous yr, make clear priorities and put together thoughtfully for what’s forward.
By way of deliberate planning, private accountability and significant connections, the method brings perspective, stability, and renewed focus with out counting on inflexible programs.
I’ve been working a small enterprise for greater than 20 years. Over that point, I’ve developed some routines. One routine occurs every year at the moment. Throughout December, I’m trying forward and pondering of the following yr. I make my plans. I make a number of resolutions. I test in with these essential. The precise particulars change every year, however the course of is similar.
Right here’s what I do yearly, on the finish of every yr.
Worker bonuses
Earlier than the yr is over, I attempt to make it possible for all of my staff and contractors who impression my enterprise have been evaluated, linked and obtain my appreciation. I ship money bonuses to every of them. It’s a discretionary bonus that I provide you with yearly based mostly on income and I’m cautious to make it possible for the bonus isn’t lower than it was the earlier yr, until income are so unhealthy that I couldn’t afford to make the cost (which fortunately hasn’t ever occurred). Even in 2025, I’m doing these bonuses by handbook test, which I slip into a vacation card that features a private observe and is intentionally delivered old skool within the mail. For a number of distant staff, I do the bonuses electronically, however nonetheless ship the cardboard.
Associated: If You Haven’t Already Executed These 7 Issues to Put together Your Enterprise for the Vacation Season, You’re Placing Your Enterprise Behind the 8-Ball
Worker evaluations
As a result of my enterprise is completely digital and lots of of my individuals are positioned all through the world, I’ve stopped doing vacation events. Nonetheless, I make it a degree to test in earlier than the yr is over with all staff with a casual analysis simply to verify they’re getting good (and constructive) suggestions and so they know the place they stand going into the following yr. I take this time additionally to determine a number of objectives for the upcoming calendar yr (i.e., chargeability, income era, shopper service scores, schooling certificates, and so forth.) with every individual so they’re clear how they’ll be evaluated within the coming yr and might benchmark themselves.
Items
Proper after Thanksgiving, I draw up an inventory of individuals whom I need to thank for doing enterprise with me in the course of the yr. They’re shoppers, potential shoppers, suppliers, companions and other people within the media. I often ship candies from Godiva or a present basket, and I maintain the funds to about $35 per individual. There are often about 50 folks on this checklist, so you are able to do the maths. There’s additionally time concerned by my assistant to coordinate all of the ordering. Which implies there’s a price. Nevertheless it’s value it. I begin with final yr’s checklist and modify it. I get a number of pleasure in doing this. And I frequently hear again from folks saying thanks, and I do know it’s appreciated. It’s not a lot, however it’s a real gesture and jogs my memory of the people who find themselves actually essential for my enterprise.
Forecast
For a enterprise as small as mine, I don’t do a funds. However I do put together a forecast. That is an internet spreadsheet and for my eyes solely. It takes me a number of days to work on every year at the moment. I revisit compensation and different prices to verify my annual overhead displays actuality. I decide particular quantifiable objectives for my enterprise — chargeable hours, shopper challenge completions, new media tasks and consulting shoppers, new shopper income, and so forth. — however I don’t make them extreme or out of attain. My spreadsheet takes into consideration an affordable estimate of the work I can anticipate within the coming yr and displays each direct and administrative prices related to that work, together with a projected internet revenue for the yr. This fashion, I’ve my numbers clear heading into the brand new yr and I do know what I’ve to attain.
Resolutions
New Yr’s resolutions are corny. However they’re helpful. Presently of yr, I make resolutions. For instance, on this coming yr, I’m resolving to satisfy sure of my distant staff in individual as soon as 1 / 4, even when meaning me flying out to see them. I’m additionally resolving to lean deeper into AI in 2026 by assessing the capabilities I can leverage in my present software program (accounting, CRM, workplace) and investing in coaching for my folks to make use of it. I’m additionally going to lean closely into an AI Assistant to help me in all issues I do in my enterprise — proper now it’s ChatGPT, however Grok is coming in as a robust contender too.
Additionally, I’m committing to taking over a number of tasks which might be out of my consolation zone as a result of — despite the fact that I’m risking profitability and even my status — it’s the one technique to develop, and it retains one’s thoughts very lively with new challenges. I attempt to maintain these resolutions to a small quantity in order that they’re achievable.
Associated: 7 Issues I’ve Realized In 7 Years of Entrepreneurship
Private objectives
Apart from my enterprise resolutions, I do make a number of private objectives for myself every year. That often revolves round sustaining a sure weight, exercising frequently, taking part in higher squash (don’t ask!) visiting a brand new nation (my spouse and I’ve been Airbnb-ing and dealing remotely three to 4 weeks in January in a unique nation every year over the previous few years and find it irresistible) or taking a household trip or taking a course in one thing I like. These objectives not solely give me one thing to sit up for but in addition maintain my head balanced between enjoyable stuff and work stuff.
Doc
An important factor about forecasting, objective setting, and creating resolutions is accountability. None of this issues when you’re not holding your self accountable to your commitments. To that finish, I create a process in my calendar utility to “test in” on all of these items on the finish of every quarter. I’ve come to sit up for doing this when the duty comes up on my to-do checklist for the day. It’s a technique to remind me of all that I’ve deliberate to do within the present yr and offers me a reset as to the place issues stand.
By the top of the yr, it’s fascinating to see simply how a lot I completed and the way life like all of my objectives had been. I maintain these duties in my historical past as a result of it’s additionally enjoyable to look again at what was on my thoughts 5 or ten years in the past. You’d be stunned at how trivial all of these “issues” that had been so essential again then are at present. It offers me perspective.
That is what I do yearly. That is my course of. It eases my thoughts. It offers me readability. It helps me look ahead. It helps me respect what’s up to now. It helps me put together for the long run. Should you’re a enterprise proprietor like I’m, I strongly counsel doing one thing related. It really works.
Key Takeaways
A protracted-standing annual ritual helps a small enterprise proprietor replicate on the previous yr, make clear priorities and put together thoughtfully for what’s forward.
By way of deliberate planning, private accountability and significant connections, the method brings perspective, stability, and renewed focus with out counting on inflexible programs.
I’ve been working a small enterprise for greater than 20 years. Over that point, I’ve developed some routines. One routine occurs every year at the moment. Throughout December, I’m trying forward and pondering of the following yr. I make my plans. I make a number of resolutions. I test in with these essential. The precise particulars change every year, however the course of is similar.
Right here’s what I do yearly, on the finish of every yr.
