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7. Do a human resource compliance audit and stay out of legal trouble. Unless you have a fully staffed HR department, you may not be aware of all of
compliance laws regarding employees. Have an audit done by an outside professional and prevent problems that could result in million dollar lawsuits by unhappy ex-employees.
8. Know your top 10 customers - what more can you do for them, where can you find more just like them. List your top ten customers by sales volume and let everyone in your organization know who they are. Are they in a particular geographic region, of a particular type - what is similar about them? Do everything you can to build on those relationships.
9. Get a coach or mentor, or join a business support group. Build accountability into your own personal planning by asking others to help you turn your dreams into reality. Enlist people who you can trust to give you objective feedback and create deadlines for your planned successes. 10. Make a list of
year's accomplishments and celebrate your successes with your employees. Don't forget to acknowledge and celebrate each of your milestones. The best part of creating a plan is to know when you've reached your goals, allowing some time to pause and appreciate
accomplishment, and begin to create your next set of goals.

Jan B. King is the former President & CEO of Merritt Publishing, a top 50 woman-owned and run business in Los Angeles and the author of Business Plans to Game Plans: A Practical System for Turning Strategies into Action (John Wiley & Sons, 2004). See www.janbking.com for more information.