How to Survive This Holiday Season as an Entrepreneur

You can't stop it; the holiday season is coming up right around the corner whether or not you're ready for it. This can be an anxiety-producing time of year if you're a new entrepreneur, but it doesn't need to be. If you're getting nervous about how to keep your momentum going, don't fear. Here are our best entrepreneur tips to survive (and thrive) during the holiday season:
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1. Schedule what you need to get done for the holidays: Chances are, you have something going on outside of your business that you need to attend to during the holiday season. Whether it's shopping, travelling to see your family, or getting to your kids' annual holiday pageant, schedule it in now so you can work around it. Yes, you need to stay productive at work, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't also make time for your most important relationships--family & friends. Scheduling your priorities now will ensure that you can get to them without having them interfere with work, making you a more rejuvenated and productive entrepreneur when you do settle back in to the office.

2. Get festive: Yes, it can be cheesy (think the holiday parties on The Office.) But that doesn't mean it isn't fun to get a little decorative and creative this time of year. Holiday decorations can be as classy or as cheesy as you want, so get shopping and start decorating the office. It will bring good cheer to your employees and clients.  Decorating the office is a smart way to take professional relationships personal in a healthy, fun way.

3. Schedule important meetings NOW: Nobody, and I really mean nobody, wants to do business during the last few weeks of December, so get important meetings on the calendar now so you can hold them in November or the first week or two of December. Only conduct business with clients, suppliers, and other offices during the last few weeks of December if it is an absolute emergency. The same goes for important deadlines at the office. Even if you don't officially shut down for more than a couple of days between now and January 1, chances are many of your employees will be taking time off. Don't impose any strict deadlines between December 20th and January 1 unless they are absolutely critical. 

​The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time of year, so be sure to have some fun with them. Lighten the mood at the office with fun decorations, but make sure people understand the importance of staying on task from now until the end of the year. Added incentives for your employees like taking a long lunch or getting out an hour early for meeting a particular deadline or other goal can be great ways to keep momentum going without costing you a fortune. For more ideas about how to stay productive and get through this holiday season, contact us.