What lessons did you learn from last year’s challenging times that will affect the way you build your business this year? A better question is what should YOU stop doing in order to take your business to the next level? One of the biggest road blocks that many businesses face are the owners themselves. Are you one of these owners? Are you actually getting in your own way in helping your business realize its full potential?

Consider some of these actions and whether you should commit to doing some or all of them starting now:

Release Inactive Control: Are there projects or action items sitting on your desk because you believe that you are the only one that can do them or make the next move? Yet, they are sitting there because you can never seem to get to them. If this is the case, then it is time for you to get them back in motion by handing them off to someone else. Being in control does not serve you well if you cannot even get yourself around to doing it. Consider the very next step and then delegate it to someone who can take the next step, get that piece of information or identify possible resources. You will be surprised at what a relief it will be that it is finally moving forward. And once begun, chances are you will continue to keep it moving with someone else’s help.

Throw a Learning Curve: Are there tasks or functions within your business you are the only one who currently knows how to do? Are these tasks you don’t really enjoy doing or would rather not be doing? Do you believe you simply do not have the time to teach anyone else to do them? Time spent now can be valuable time saved later and used in a much more productive and prosperous way for your business. Take the time and make the time to bring someone else in to take these tasks or functions over.

Cha-Ching, Cha-Ching: We all know cash is king and profits are a business’ royal flush. How many of you are the primary rainmakers for your business and spending way too much time doing necessary but non-income generating activities? Your time is valuable, and even more so when it directly affects bringing business in or keeping paying customers happy. Take a look at what you are currently doing on a day-to-day basis that you could have someone else do. Typically these fall into the administrative, operational or accounting realm. Handing off pays off.

Dare to Share: A statistic I enjoy sharing is the fact that people who achieve their goals are seven times more likely to share their goals with others.  Some of the most exciting and unexpected developments towards seeing a goal come to fruition can be realized by sharing your plans consistently as a part of talking about your business with associates, vendors, suppliers, family and friends. I have often consulted with business owners who kept everything so close to the vest that the idea, vision or aspirations they had for their business could literally not breathe. Sharing your plans gives them life, just like air gives you life. Sharing with others gives your plans wings to soar beyond what you may have even imagined on your own.

Dump, Process & Rule: One of the things I have heard more times than I can count from employees or those assisting entrepreneurs is “If only I could get inside his/her head and understand how he/she thinks.” But it is actually beyond how you think. It is actually how you do what you do. Is it time to do a brain dump? The more you can convert what is in your head into a system, process or procedure, the more you can focus on other things. What is most important to understand is that by turning what you know into a tangible action or process, you are building your business to be an entity that can operate eventually without you. And for many of you seeking to retire some day, this equates to bringing value to your business when it is time to sell. Those who don’t will continue to be slaves to their businesses. Which sounds more appealing to you?

The most effective business owners are also great managers of their destiny. They know how to get things done beyond the confines of their minds and their capabilities. As a result, they make more effective decisions and take more effective action when choices need to be made. Make 2010 the year you become a manager of your destiny.

Sherré DeMao is author of Me, Myself & Inc. – a Synergized World, An Energized Business, Living Your Ultimate Life, and the founder of SLD Unlimited Marketing/PR, Inc., a full-service marketing and public relations firm based in Denver, NC. Her column seeks to help business owners become more savvy marketers and strategists. DeMao can be reached at 704.483.2941 or sherre@sldunlimited.com.