have  you done this?  it sure helps me   look at our  business  at  this  time of  year when evaluating  things   and   planning   for the new year……. i do it the  old school way…pen and paper and  4 headings…..STRENGTHS…WEAKNESSES…OPPORTUNITIES…. AND  THREATS….  you  just fill in  your   ideas under each heading….also nice to have others in  your   group  do it….

im sure you  could   find a high tekk way to do it….if  you  would  be more comfortable  that way..

. this is  such an easy way to  see where   the  good things are  coming  from and where the  drains   are..and  what might  be out there for us if  we  aimed inthat  direction…..we do much of our buying in january….so i really have to focus!!! and  get it as right as possible…this  helps me  see the customers   desires…it helps in many other ways too.. 

@evelyneoreskovich .whatever  works!!!  but .many us e a lot broader   version of this  excersize…where strength could  be  seen as …location, financial strength..,reputation, customers,popularity of your product, marketing   ability, staff……etc….

.and  threats  could  be  so internal as well as  external…..health,  bad habits, poor judgement….

@annfurnivall @evelyneoreskovich 

Hello Ladies.

I agree on all points.  Take this one step further…

The only problem is if we are judging not just our businesses but ourselves and our own performance, it might to our advantage to have a few other folks doing the same brain-storming process at the same time. Then switch papers and see how others view us, and our efforts. Do this on an individual basis for each person in the organization and then develop some tough skin when you read how others think you (we) perform.

It’s always good to know how others view us; those we work with especially. 

.02

Eileen