New Year's Resolutions for Independent Educational Consultants: 5 Tricks for Achieving Your Business Goals
As independent educational consultants, it's important to continually strive for improvement in order to provide the best possible services to your clients. One way to do this is by setting new year's resolutions for your small business. It's not always easy to stick to these resolutions, especially as the year goes on and other priorities start to take over. Here are a few tips for seeing through your IEC practice new year's resolutions in 2023.
- Start small. When making your new year's resolutions, focus on specific areas of your business that you'd like to improve. For example, you might resolve to spend more time networking with other consultants, or to update your knowledge of the latest admissions trends at universities. By setting smaller, achievable goals, you'll be able to stay motivated and make progress towards your larger goals.
How CollegePlannerPro can help:
- Network and share best practices in our members-only Community Forum.
- Join one of our partnering member organizations (IECA, HECA or NCAG) and receive 25% off your CollegePlannerPro subscription.
- Explore college data and create custom college lists using the College Search tool.
- Make a plan. Once you've set your goals, take the time to create a plan for achieving them. This should include specific steps and deadlines for each goal, as well as any resources or support you'll need along the way. For example, if you're planning to implement a new client onboarding process, you might scope out exactly which steps will be involved, and who will be responsible for each part.
How CollegePlannerPro can help:
- Draft and schedule your client communications for the year using the Broadcast Email tool (now allowing scheduled emails up to 2 years in advance).
- Collaborate with your teammates on custom college lists and college notes.
- Create Checklist Templates to standardize internal processes across your team.
- Track your progress. As you work towards your goals, make sure to regularly check in on your progress. This will help you stay accountable and ensure that you're on track to achieve your goals. You can track your progress using a variety of tools, including those found in a comprehensive IEC software solution like CollegePlannerPro.
How CollegePlannerPro can help:- Reference the All Student Checklist Items Report on the “Students” tab for an at-a-glance view of task completion for consultants in your organization.
- Log hours spent both in session with students and independently with the Time Tracker.
- Celebrate your successes. As you make progress towards your goals, be sure to celebrate your successes along the way. This will help keep you motivated and remind you of the progress you've made. For example, if you've successfully helped a student get accepted to their dream university, take the time to celebrate that accomplishment and share it with your colleagues and clients.
How CollegePlannerPro can help:- Encourage students to log their admissions decisions in the Application Outline within CustomCollegePlan. They’ll be greeted with a festive confetti-burst any time an acceptance is entered.
- Analyze student admissions outcomes with the Admission Decision Report and Received Scholarships Report. The data contained in these reports will help you quantify all those achievements worthy of celebration.
- Seek support. Finally, don't be afraid to seek support when you need it. Whether it's advice from other consultants, guidance from a mentor, or help from your network of contacts, there are many people who can help you stay on track with your new year's resolutions. By reaching out for support, you'll be able to stay focused and motivated, and increase your chances of achieving your goals.
How CollegePlannerPro can help:
- Seek out a business coach. Professionals like Cyndy McDonald are industry veterans who counsel IECs on the ins and outs of running a successful practice.
- Not sure how CollegePlannerPro can help maximize your efficiency? Schedule a training call with our team by contacting support@collegeplannerpro.com.
In conclusion, sticking to your small business new year's resolutions can be challenging, but it's well worth the effort. By setting achievable goals, making a plan, tracking your progress, celebrating your successes, and seeking support, you'll be able to stay on track and make steady progress towards building an educational consulting practice that sets students on a path to success.