Planning for 2022 – It’s Go Time!

Our regular listeners know this, but 2 Regular Guys are all about garment decorating, a bit of fun, and no rants or lectures or selling. We are not doing this for our employers, but rather for our industry. Since February 2013, The 2 Regular Guys have been the first and the most listened to garment decorating industry podcast on this planet! We are humbled by all of you tuning in each week. We work hard to bring you information that will make your business better, and our industry better. Take a look at our incredible weekly guest list and you’ll understand where this industry goes for news, interviews, and the heartbeat of garment decorating. Thanks for listening!

News

• Aaron: Not news as much as it is a call for help. I am the new National Technical Committee Chairman for the National Skills USA Graphics Imaging – Sublimation Competition which is being held in Atlanta this year on June 23rd and 24th. If you are involved in the sublimation world, I need people to volunteer to judge, people to donate supplies, equipment, and any support possible. Please reach out to me by email. aaron@2regularguys.com. Anyone can and everyone should help as this is the future of our industry.

Dad Joke: Another Christmas joke, this time from Lisa Shaw

Why is Santa afraid to be stuck in the chimney?

He has Claus-trophobia

Planning for 2022

Last Year…

Aaron: Check Work/Life Balance – Prioritize 

Aaron: Are you checking the boxes for you? 

Aaron: Discover or Refine Your “Why”

Terry: Purchasing new equipment, products and supplies in a continued Covid world

Terry: Let’s start firing! Customers, that is.

Terry: What worked and didn’t work during the Covid year?

2022

Aaron: Have a Process

• Just committing to “planning” is a start, but you need more.
• What does planning mean for you? 
• Put in on the calendar / make it a sacred appointment
• Involve other stakeholders
• Make a repeatable process so you can get better at planning yearly. 

Terry: Look at the changes your business went through during the 2021 version of the Covid year, and determine which you want to keep

• Sort of a repeat, but last year it was more of a crisis view of what works and what doesn’t
• Silver lining kind of thinking
• Lots of reevaluating going on right now about trade shows, etc.

Aaron: What are the metrics you will be using to track your progress in 2022

• Planning is about improving the future before it happens
• To manage it you have to have a tracking system / manage what you measure
• Skip the Vanity Metrics | Social Media Followers, Total Sales, # of Customers
• To be worth measuring it should equal (Consistent * Actionable Tactics = INCREASED Customer Satisfaction)

Terry: Equipment purchases in 2022 – Lead times are real and not going away

• Some examples
  • Conveyor dryers
  • Heat presses
  • Plastisol inks

Aaron: Set clear goals that include how much and by when

• You might have heard “Goal without a Plan is a Wish”, TRUE – Also a goal without a due date is just a dream.
• Must be able to be understood and able to be confirmed by a 3rd party
• After setting goals, also include affirmations – Need to focus on what we want and act as it. – Affirmation guide free at https://oursuccessgroup.com/blocks/
• Also set what I call “Margins” – Basic actions you can take, preferably daily that will help you reach your goal.
  • Example – Goal – Have sold 300 or more of the 5 Keys of Growing and Launching Training Program by June 15, 2022
  • Example – Affirmation – I am grateful my abundance mindset has led to 300 or more growing businesses have invested in the 5 Keys of Growing and Launching Training Program.
  • Example – Margin – Share the 5 Keys program details with at least one person every day.

Terry: Follow through… with customers, with employees, with your personal plans…

• Friends, customers, perfect strangers say all the time, “If I could just get a call back,” followed by, “If they would have just done what they said they’d do.”