Month 13

The first day back to work brings both hope and depression for many business owners.

Hope that somehow this year will be better. An unnecessarily limited ambition on which to base this particular new year.

And depression because if you regard January as Month 1, matching last year’s numbers - never mind beating them - looks a long way away.

A mindset which focuses too narrowly on consequences, not actions.

Businesses don’t create sales. They create customers.

And the best ones do it as part of a long-term approach that builds over time.

Which allows them to use each January as a moment to assess how far they have come.

But also ensures they never see it as Month 1.