Rhonda Abrams The Passionate Entrepreneur

If so, ask yourself, "What's one big new thing I can do to significantly increase my income this year?"

Now, I don't want you to think of 10 things you could do, and I certainly don't want you to come up with a total reorganization plan for your company. Nor do I want you to develop a list of 50 small changes you can make. That's not what this particular exercise is about.

Instead, concentrate on one big new thing, but only one thing. It has to be something that can potentially make you a meaningful amount of money next year, and make you more excited about your business at the same time.

I'm a big believer that long-tem small-business success comes from two things: thoughtful planning and proper execution of the day-to-day fundamentals of running your company.

That's why I don't want you to immediately drop everything and go after your new goal. Instead, I want to make certain that you can pursue your new income source without jeopardizing your current bread-and-butter business.

What kinds of things might you choose as your one big new thing? It could be something new, such as:

• A specific client, like trying to land a major company in your community as an account

• A broad customer target market, such as a consumer demographic group or an industry that you don't currently serve

• A product or service, especially one that's a natural extension of your current offerings

• A modification to a current product or service, so it can be sold to a broader market

• A distribution channel, to give you an additional way to reach customers

• Operational efficiency, so you significantly reduce your expenses and increase your profits.

Come up with a mini-plan for your big thing. Figure out what you need to have in place to pursue your new goal. Here's what you need to determine:

• What marketing materials do you need: brochures, advertising, web site changes, trade show participation?

• Who will you have to talk to? How will you reach them?

• Will you have to increase production, order more inventory, or stock up on supplies?

• Will it involve travel; if so, where and when?

• What support from your suppliers or distributors do you need?

• What extra effort from employees will be required?

• What activities require you to spend money? How much? How will you afford it?

Clearly, going after one big new thing involves some investment of time and money -- and some measure of risk. And it's going to mean getting outside of your comfort zone; you're going to have to take some actions that challenge you. That's OK, and even desirable. Just don't go after anything so big that you jeopardize your core business.

Keep in mind that pursuing one big new thing isn't for every business. If you're in the midst of a major change or you're struggling just to survive, you've already got your hands full. But if yours is a relatively healthy business, going after one big new goal -- just one -- can re-energize you as well as be a boon for your bank account in 2007.