Follow these simple steps to help make your business dreams a reality in 2016. 

Business Doctor Peter Fleming's day job is growing Cumbrian businesses and helping them thrive. So we asked him to share Cumbrian his top business tips that will help you achieve your vision.

What can I do to make my dream a reality? 

>Ensure that you are always focused and working towards your personal aspirations, be that a special holiday, more time with the family, a new car, skiing trip with friends, a yacht or even a holiday home.

>Put a number on it! I.e. holiday say £4,000, car £20,000 or a holiday home £250,000 and then set a time scale, 1 year, 10 years to achieve this goal.

>Visualise your dream. Have a picture of your dream on the office wall, fridge door, or screen saver on your phone or computer. Keep visualising this dream is within reach and sense the feeling of achievement as this will remind you and support you whilst you are going through any pain!

>Break the value required into sizeable chunks, say by months over the period you set. Then a key tip is to stretch this monetary target! I.e. stick 10-20% on to the figure you need.

For instance, if you need to generate an extra £1,000 per month from your business over the next 24 months to buy that new car, set yourself the target of £1,200 per month.

The next task is to get your business working for you! Determine what additional activities or actions need to take place to increase sales, productivity and/or gain efficiency to generate additional income. These actions need to be realistic and when implemented should result in generating increased net profit to take the drawings to realise your personal aspiration.

Why will this help me?

  • If the target was realistic in the first place by stretching the target marginally you are likely to challenge yourself, to actually do things differently, working smarter rather than harder. 
  • You will challenge yourself and participate in personal development, researching business books, taking advice, asking for support, coaching and even training to become more effective in your role. 
  • That first month when you achieve the £1,200 extra income, the self-gratification and sense of achievement will actually drive you to challenge and change things even more. Spending time planning and securing the necessary steps to achieve a £1,250 target creating an appetite to change.

You do need however to achieve a balanced approach. If the dream and target is too easy or too stretched and unrealistic the chances are you will never push yourself, or even give up and therefore never change your way of working and never achieve your own and your businesses full potential.

Looking to grow your business?

If you are looking to grow your business, Business Doctors Cumbria offer a free business health check where we can help you to set a clear vision to understand the steps you need to take to fulfil your aspirations. Contact Peter Fleming 07966 686112 email peterfleming@businessdoctors.co.uk

Visit: www.businessdoctors.co.uk/health-check

Looking for a useful event in Cumbria?

Join Peter Fleming from Business Doctors, Stuart Irving from Bendles Solicitors and Darren Moynan from Moynan Smith at a free business growth seminar 12 noon - 2.00pm on Wednesday 16th March, Clydesdale Bank, Kingstown, Carlisle,

Book: www.businessdoctors.co.uk/event/545/breaking-big-seminar