By Craig Lourens, Business Coach

A new year means a fresh start, and 2025 is your opportunity to open the taps and take your plumbing business to the next level. Let’s make this year all about thriving and seizing every opportunity. After all, we’re in “twenty-twenty-thrive,” and it’s your time to shine!

Craig Louren, Business Coach

Craig Louren, Business Coach. © Plumbing Africa

I’m Craig Lourens, your Business Coach, and I’m here to help YOU make “twenty-twenty-thrive” the year your plumbing business thrives like never before.

Did you know that all successful people are intensely goal-oriented? It’s true. In business, there are two key truths:

  • It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from; all that matters is where you’re going. Your past doesn’t dictate your future unless you allow it to. While you may have faced challenges last year, your focus should be on where you’re headed in 2025.
  • It’s not about what you plan to do; it’s about what you’re doing right now. Plans without action are meaningless. The present moment is your most powerful tool for success because the actions you take today shape your future.

At the core of your progress are GOALS. Proper, meaningful goals are the foundation for setting your business on the path to thrive in 2025.

Meaningful Goals + Meaningful Actions = Meaningful Results

As Steven Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, wisely said, “To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means you need to know where you’re going so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.”

If you’ve ever thought, “I set goals last year, but somehow, I came up short,” you’re not alone. Here are three common reasons businesses fail to achieve their goals:

  1. Lack of Clarity and Focus
  • Goals that are too vague or undefined are difficult to pursue. For example, saying, “I want to grow my plumbing business” is less actionable than, “I want to increase service calls by 20% in Q1 by implementing a referral program.”
  • Without clear direction, your team can become distracted or misaligned.
  1. Failure to Execute Consistently
  • Having a goal without a structured plan for action is like having a map without knowing how to navigate. Many businesses fail to break their goals into smaller, actionable steps.
  • Inconsistent follow-through leads to missed opportunities and slow progress.
  1. Resistance to Accountability
  • Goals require discipline and accountability, but many business owners avoid tracking progress or holding themselves responsible for results.
  • Without accountability, it’s easy to procrastinate, blame external factors, or lose motivation.

This Year, It’s Time to Be Strategic and Purposeful

Think about it: successful people set goals and back them up with meaningful actions. They don’t get stuck in blame, excuses, or denial. They move forward, driven by a positive mindset that sets them up for success.

A Harvard study found that 10 years after graduation, the 3% of MBA graduates with written goals were earning 10x more than the rest combined. The takeaway? Writing down well-structured goals works. Are you ready to join the 3%?

9 Actions to Help Your Plumbing Business Thrive in 2025

Here are nine actions you must put in place to avoid falling prey to “Lack of Clarity and Focus,” “Failure to Execute Consistently,” and “Resistance to Accountability”:

  1. Set SMART Goals: Ensure goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of “grow my business,” say, “Increase revenue by 20% in Q1 through acquiring 15 new clients.”
  2. Define Key Priorities: Identify 3-5 critical priorities for the quarter and align all activities around them.
  3. Create a Vision Statement: Develop a long-term vision for your plumbing business that keeps your team inspired and focused.
  4. Develop a Quarterly Plan: Break annual goals into quarterly objectives, weekly tasks, and daily actions.
  5. Use Project Management Tools: Leverage tools like ServCraft, to assign tasks and track progress.
  6. Schedule Regular Check-Ins: Implement weekly team meetings to review progress, address challenges, and refocus on priorities.
  7. Establish a Reporting Framework: Use dashboards or scorecards to track key metrics like completed jobs, revenue growth, and customer satisfaction.
  8. Build an Accountability System: Partner with a coach, mentor, or accountability group to ensure follow-through.
  9. Celebrate Wins and Learn from Misses: Recognize achievements and analyse setbacks to maintain motivation and growth.

Plan, Act, Thrive

To thrive in 2025, you need to integrate Clarity, Execution, and Accountability into your business operations. Regularly review your goals, adjust your plans, and track your progress to stay on course.

For plumbing businesses, this could mean targeting specific growth areas like expanding your client base, optimizing scheduling systems, or improving customer satisfaction. For example, consider offering a new loyalty program to encourage repeat business or investing in marketing to increase your visibility in local communities.

Don’t let this year’s opportunities slip by. Let’s make 2025 the year your plumbing business thrives. It all starts with a plan, and it starts NOW.

Let’s thrive together!

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