Season’s Greetings Nexion Community! Another year is almost behind us, and let me just say wow, what a year 2023 has been! I was ecstatic to see so many of you at our CoNexion at sea. We had a blast, as I’m sure we will this coming year in the Big Easy.

Sadly, the world at large hasn’t been all smooth sailing, which affects us all on both a personal and professional level. At home, we’ve seen a strong economic recovery and a great year for the travel industry. But elsewhere, times are much tougher. I don’t know what the future holds, but as usual, I’m optimistic.

If you’re staring down 2024 and feeling uncertain, now is the time to make sure your business stays ahead of the curve. In case you missed my advice in our most recent Member Town Hall, here are some things to consider:

1. Review and Update Your Website and Social Media Profiles: Your online presence is often the first impression clients have of you and your business. Make sure your website is user-friendly, mobile-responsive, and contains up-to-date information. Likewise, revisit your social media profiles to ensure they align with your brand and engage your target audience.
2. Develop (or Dust Off) Your Marketing Plan: It’s always worth taking the time to evaluate your marketing strategy. If the tactics you’ve been using have produced good results, by all means, hold course! But if they haven’t, consider new channels and strategies that may better serve your goals. Whether it’s content marketing, social media advertising, or influencer partnerships, a well-thought-out marketing plan can always give you a boost!
3. Research and Stay Up to Date on Trends and Innovations: When it comes to the business environment, the only thing that stays the same is that everything changes. That means it only benefits you to stay informed about industry trends, consumer preferences, and emerging technologies that might change the game. Regularly reassessing how these changes could impact your business helps ensure that you’ll be prepared to adapt when changes inevitably happen.
4. Establish Next Year’s Operating Budget: A well-structured budget is the cornerstone of financial stability. Review your current financial standing so that it’s easy to set clear, realistic goals for the upcoming year. Allocate resources wisely and strategically, considering areas that may require additional investment for growth.
5. Ensure Compliance with New Regulations/Protocols: Regulations are subject to change, and staying compliant is non-negotiable. Stay informed about any new laws or protocols that may affect your business, and make the necessary adjustments to avoid legal complications.
6. Plan for Contingencies and Prepare to Adapt: While things are looking promising at the moment, the economy is also quite unpredictable (as any of you who have been in business long enough surely know), and thus the ability to adapt quickly is crucial. Now is the time to develop contingency plans for potential challenges, be it supply chain disruptions, regulatory shifts, or other unforeseen obstacles. Flexibility and resilience will be your greatest assets.
7. Identify and Prioritize Your Personal Development Initiatives: Investing in your soft skills and knowledge is an investment in your long-term success. Identify areas where personal development might be needed, be it leadership skills, industry-specific knowledge, or technological know-how.

I truly hope you all enjoy your holiday season and prioritize spending time with your loved ones. Your business is important to you, but don’t lose sight of life’s most valuable treasures.

And now, you have reason to breathe easy! By proactively addressing these points, smart business owners like yourselves can be in a position for success in 2024. Embrace change, stay informed, and be ready to adapt, and you can rest assured your business’s future is on solid ground.

From me to each and every one of you, I’m sending my deepest and warmest holiday wishes! I’m so grateful to work with people like you and I can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store for us!

Jackie