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It seems that there is no end of things to think about as a small business owner. In the process of crossing things off your never-ending to-do list it can be easy to overlook items that may need attention. While there is no way to focus on every aspect of your business all at once there are some often secondary items that really need to get bumped up to the top of the priority list, including:

Your own health. Owning a small business is nothing short of exhausting at times. Putting every ounce of your being into your business may seem like the smart way to succeed, but it can quickly lead to burn out. Taking the time that you need for yourself is not only enjoyable, but it is a health necessity. Mentally, you need time to step away from your business on occasion and recharge your psyche. Physically, you need rest for your body to function at its healthiest. Both types of rest are important for overall workplace productivity too. Schedule time for yourself – whether it is a weekly pedicure, or a cutoff time for work in the evenings, or a full-blown vacation. Your small business will be better off as a result.

Customer service. Sending a customer on his or her happy way after a purchase is just the beginning of building loyalty. It is important for small business owners to keep in contact with their consumer base to ensure they keep coming back. A cloud-based customer relationship management platform can help you streamline communications with your customers from anywhere and can help you build a database of their preferences. You should also be sure that you keep an eye on your social media accounts in order to respond to any consumer questions or concerns in real-time (or pretty close to it). Never let the pursuit of new clients overshadow taking care of the ones you already have.

Long-term growth. The phrase “one step at a time” is great to remember in the overwhelming moments of being a business owner but you need to look into the future sometimes too. Unless you set goals and have the benchmarks in place to reach them you cannot take your small business from one spot to the next. Even if you have plans to stay the same size, it is important to make goals for how you want your business to evolve over time. Celebrate your everyday successes but keep your eye on the long-term prize.

What is highest on your small business priority list?

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