2024 Strategic Planning Guide for Contractors

If you’ve ever watched the iconic Pixar movie “Up,” you might remember the adventurous tale of a man flying around the world in a house held up by balloons. Impressive, right? But I want to focus on a different aspect of the story. Instead, think about Dug, the lovable talking dog constantly distracted by “Squirrel!”

I can be like Dug. It’s easy for me to get sidetracked from what my focus should be to the constant to-do list that piles up. Have you ever felt like that? As the go-to person in your company, distractions are everywhere. Maybe your technicians are calling with questions, or you find yourself buried in busy work, fearing that if you don’t do it, no one will.

Thus, I’ve calmed my Dug energy for a second and want to help all my fellow “Dugs” out there to refocus and prepare for 2024. 

Get rid of the SQUIRRELS.

Sometimes, the best way to gain perspective is to get away from distractions (aka squirrels). As you plan for 2024, take time away from the office. Whether it’s a quiet coffee shop or going fishing, carve out time to leave the office and your phone. Let’s do it together. 

Out of Office Date: _________

Time: ________

Location: __________

Pro Tip: take a notepad and pen with you.

Charting Your Course for 2024: Strategic Planning

As you begin planning, take a step back to celebrate your wins.

Reflect on Your Achievements: What are three things you accomplished this year?

1. __________________________
2. __________________________
3. __________________________

Congratulations! These are stepping stones to future success.

Before you plan…

Have you ever heard the theory of the carrot versus the stick? As an industry, have we been chasing our teams and technicians around with a stick? I’ve found that when my department’s goals are too big and far out, it’s easy for my team and I to get discouraged, and that’s when it becomes automatic to start chasing the squirrels. Squirrels are just distractions (busy work) for “Dugs” like me to get excited about “doing when, in reality, I should be moving towards something more significant.

That’s only a tiny reason why we should create a culture of winning. Our key to win? The carrot. The carrot is simply a symbol of the natural reward system in our brains. When we achieve something, receive praise, eat great food, or see someone liking our Facebook post, our neuropathways react, and a bit of dopamine is released in our brains, producing an excited, happy feeling. You can create this in your company by setting multiple small goals to get your team used to the wins. 

An example of this might be instead of creating substantial lofty unreachable goals like “get your daily service truck revenue from $1,800 to $3,000 in a month. What if we started by asking to help our teams go from $1,800 to $1,850 in one week? Let’s get some wins, release some dopamine, and change our culture. 

Remember, success is a series of small victories. Breaking down your goals into manageable tasks makes them more achievable and motivates you. Celebrate each small win –Make a big deal in front of everyone. These wins are the fuel that powers the journey towards your larger vision.

Identify Areas for Growth: 

What small goals would you like to shoot for in the first quarter of 2024?

1. __________________________
2. __________________________
3. __________________________

Great! You’re on your way!

So here’s to ending 2023 with a celebration- you did it! Now, as we look ahead, let’s focus on the small wins, get the “SQUIRREL!” out of our attention spans, and build your businesses.

Need help? Let me know. I have plenty of organizational tactics to get rid of those pesky squirrels, and if not me, our success coaches are the top dogs for “Dugs” like us.

-Melody Chaney

Have questions? Call us or email us at 706.259.8892 | [email protected]