Having a year-and-a-half as a small business owner under my belt has made me pensive. I keep thinking there are new things I should be doing and new technologies I should be test-driving to improve my productivity and better serve my clients.

With that in mind, I’ve made up these resolutions for the New Year. Some I’ve even gotten a head start on:

1. Better integrate my applications. Today, I enter projects in QuickBooks and in QuickBooks Customer Manager. Why? Simply stated, I’ve been too lazy to figure out how to properly integrate the two programs so I only have to enter the projects once. However, entering details on projects in two places is a complete time-waster. This is just one example. I have myriad tasks that I do twice or three times that could easily be streamlined.
2. Manage my contacts more efficiently. While my filing system of names, e-mail addresses, snail mail addresses and phone numbers has in the past worked brilliantly for me, it’s recently come to light that this system is horrendous for an expanding business. Trying to find names piecemeal is far different than having to do group mailings or group messages. For instance, in the past, I’ve kept all my PR contacts in the folders of the topics that they assisted me on. That system fails when I have to remember all the PR people I have at the ready for a universal message. Instead, I plan to use the group function in my QuickBooks and QuickBooks Customer Manager to handle even non-client contacts. (Aside: Referring back to Resolution 1, this can be done semi-automatically between Outlook and Customer Manager.)
3. Combine my BlackBerry and cell phone. Finally, RIM has come out with a BlackBerry that makes sense as a cell phone and PDA. Rather than the fat version of the BlackBerry, the new 7105 and 7130 are what I’ve been waiting for. However, my first attempts at condensing to a single device were stymied. I still have a bit of time left on my Cingular BlackBerry contract, but my Verizon cell phone broke. I would have just switched to Cingular for cell and BlackBerry, but Cingular does not have great coverage in my town and my relatives are all on Verizon, making calls to them in-network and free. By the end of this year, I hope to have solved this dilemma and have one device and one bill.
4. Network more. I don’t mean network my computer devices, I mean get out of the office and network with my peers more. There is nothing more valuable than spending time with your colleagues and hearing their take on the industry. When you work in a small office or home office this opportunity can seem elusive. However, volunteering for non-profit organizations or going to Chamber of Commerce meetings are great ways to expand your network.
5. Become a mentor. I’ve learned more in the past year and a half than I can believe. From starting and running a small business to all the technology know-how I’ve had the opportunity to amass, it’s been a tremendous adventure. I’ve met a lot of people along the way that have helped me and offered me their time and advice. Without them, I would have foundered, for sure. I resolve to find venues – in addition to this column – to share this advice as well as lessons I’ve learned independently with others. Hopefully, it will spur others to take the leap and try life out on their own.

What are your resolutions for the new year? What did you resolve to do last year that you never quite got a chance to do? Let me know at sgittlen@charter.net.