Happy New Year to all my readers! I hope your holidays were wonderful, and that Santa brought lots of goodies. Each year when the calendar turns over it is a great time to recommit to goals. There are many things that you can do to help your business prosper and flourish in 2010.

The trick is to make a commitment to move forward. You have to “do what it takes,” bite the bullet, put in the time, and do the hard work. And hard work it is. Ask anyone who has a successful business, and they will tell you about the sleepless nights, anxious moments, hard decisions, and sacrifices they made.

If you are confused and don’t know where to start planning, the following suggestions will start you moving forward and achieving your goals in 2010.Set personal goals. What do you want out of your business, now and in the future?

1. Establish a long-range vision for the business, consistent with your personal goals.
2. Establish a 3-year business vision, along with specific 3-year goals, consistent with the long-range vision.
3. Develop a brief (1-2 pages max) 1-year business plan, consistent with your 3-year vision and goals.

After you take this “long term” look, back it down to the next twelve months. Then take a look at the next six months, and finally look at the first quarter. What can you do in the next 4 weeks to move toward achieving your goals? Write it down, set time lines and due dates, and get moving! One hint…..make your goals reasonable, achievable, but able to stretch you and make you work for it.

B2B CFO specializes in helping small businesses achieve their goals. A part time Chief Financial Officer can help you establish your business direction, analyze your financials so you set reasonable and achievable goals, and help you measure your progress. If you feel “stuck in the mud,” look for a professional partner with whom you can work, with whom you feel comfortable, and who is affordable and has the background to work with your business.

Start soon and 2010 will be a banner year for your business and yourself.