While working away on planning your New Year’s resolutions, perhaps a consideration for your personal goals is to reach out professionally for new, fresh ideas that make your business work better. We have witnessed the biggest recession in decades, borderline depression, with failing businesses, jobs lost, and homes given back to the bank. Yet, I personally have seen a major shift in spending.

What is working for businesses, for those who have survived, and why?

In years past, many categories of business grew complacent as new clients seemed to just ‘flood’ in without having to reach out to grab them. We witnessed a lack of networking and heavy reliance that the money would never go away.

What is different today? We are going back to the good old days of having to build relationships, networking, and grass-roots marketing. Sure, the influx of the Web, social media, and digital connect is imperative today… however, it does not replace the power of face to face interaction and a “good ‘ole hand shake” to seal the deal.

People want to do business with someone they are familiar with. We all got so caught up in “cyber-space” that it truly put a big fat wedge between us and the potential client! It also cannot offer a reliable way to advertise… by itself. The World Wide Web is a beautiful tool, but on its own, without traditional advertising means to drive people to it, it won’t work properly.

The business owners that are combining a healthy dose of personal touch and face to face time, are those who are winning. So, back to the New Year’s resolution…most business is a means to your end to live your life the way you want to. Do yourself a favor, look at your business and make some personal adjustments. Combine the ways of yesteryear along with the technologies of today to create a win-win that will last a lifetime. You never know… you just may enjoy your business again.