Welcome to the Working Solo Minute, the 60-second newsletter designed specifically for solo entrepreneurs. You're receiving this email newsletter because you have requested it. Names are never bartered, shared, sold or used for any other purpose; 100% confirmed subscribers.

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As mentioned in last week's newsletter, this new version of the Working Solo Newsletter offers smaller bits of news on a weekly basis. While the format has changed, the basics remain: solid, "real world" information you can use immediately to grow a profitable solo business. -- Terri Lonier

You can view this newsletter (as well as earlier issues) on the Web at:
http://www.workingsolo.com/minute.html

In last week's newsletter, I shared two tasks that start each New Year for me: setting up financial files and calendar. This week, we turn to a third important New Year launch tool: Charting your year's worth of goals.

This is one of the most powerful tools for solo business success, yet I find so few soloists take time to do it. Why? Perhaps it's because soloists often don't feel they have a "real" business. Or they convince themselves they don't have the time to plan -- they're too busy running the business. But here's the truth:

Successful companies, no matter what their size, don't wing it. They plan.

Planning doesn't need to be complex or filled with mystery. In my solo business, here's what I do to jump-start my year:

Review.
Set aside a few hours devoted to planning for the year. Select your favorite music, make a pot of coffee or tea, and settle in with your past year's financials and calendar. Review what really worked for you last year. What projects, events, or encounters brought you the most fulfillment -- both personally and professionally? Why? Analyze them for common elements.

Imagine.
Think ahead to the coming year. What would you like to achieve? Jump to a year from today, imagining that you're doing this exercise again. What would you be most pleased about having accomplished? These might be financial goals, project goals, business development targets -- whatever you've chosen to focus upon.

Jot down all these possibilities. Stretch your thinking and make this list as long as you can. Some may seem outrageous and completely unrealistic -- but they may hold the kernel of a great new idea for your solo business. There's no judgment at this stage, only idea-generation.

Reflect on this list and select one to three things that seem most appealing. Ponder what ROI they will deliver, and what investment they require in terms of time, money, and energy. Consider how they fit in with existing efforts and commitments in your business.

Chart.
To turn these ideas into reality, you must chart their timetable and create interim goals. This is where many soloists stumble, and their ideas only remain in the "dream" stage.

Pull out your calendar and establish intermediate goals and deadlines. Work backwards from your target achievement date and create weekly, monthly, and/or quarterly objectives. Put pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, or stylus to PDA and put these on your calendar.

Refine.
Lastly, refine your objectives and timeline throughout the year. Some goals may be accomplished far more quickly than you ever imagined, while others may require more sustained effort and rescheduling. Some goals may fade from your list and be replaced by new interests.

What's most important is to remember that achieving goals is an organic process, subject to factors that are both within and outside your control. You must remain both flexible and responsive.

Achievement does not arrive by happenstance. It begins with focus, intent, and planning. It's not difficult -- and in a solo business, it's something only you can do.