ACTION COACH

With only a month to go until the end of the year, there is no doubt that the temptation to “give up” on this year and get into festive mode is there. While this seems like an appealing option, considering the tough 2021 that South Africans – especially KZN residents – have had to endure, this would be a major missed opportunity. As entrepreneurs we must use this last stretch of the year to finish strong. We must also remember that for most businesses the financial year ends at the end of February, so still a whole quarter to go.

Here are our top tips on how to use the next three months to finish the financial year strong:

Clear Goals

Ensure that you have clear goals for the last quarter of the year so that you can finish the financial year on a good note. Not only do you need to be clear on the goals you are chasing, but you need to

Is your tank EMPTY?

DARRYN LE GRANGE SHARES ADVICE ON HOW TO FINISH THE FINANCIAL YEAR STRONG

be clear on the actions that need to be taken to achieve these goals. As they say, a goal without a plan is just a dream.

Review The Year

Taking stock of the year that has been is such a valuable exercise. What worked for you this year, and what didn’t? What were the biggest lessons? Which of your team members performed well, who didn’t? What do you need to do differently next year? Don’t do this exercise on your own – get your team involved. You will be pleasantly surprised by the combined contribution and ideas.

Next Year's Budget The last quarter of the year

Need some guidance?

Take us up on our offer of a complimentary consultation where we will explore how you could take your business up a notch or two in 2022. Email darrynlegrange@ actioncoach.com to request your session.

is a great opportunity to start working on next year’s budget. Ask your team members for their wish lists, get clear on the underlying growth assumptions and define the target profit. You then put the

ABOVE: From left, Deborah Coskey, Natasha Swartz, Chenal Brummer and Darryn Le Grange.

budget together line by line until it reflects the target profit on the bottom line.

Marketing Plan

Marketing is the key to business success, so start drafting your marketing plan now. The key decisions to make are: ¥ Which marketing strategies will you be using. ¥ What marketing budget you have available. ¥ Plan the timing of each strategy, so that all that’s left to do is execution.

So many of our clients have had record months this year. Why? Because they did all of the above and more. Success is about following a proven recipe for your business – so find your recipe, follow it, and most importantly, have fun along the way.

www.actioncoachignite.co.za W ActionCOACHIgnite

ABOVE: Dean is wearing a bespoke sateen shawl collar tuxedo in a Cerruti superfine wool fabric and a Stenströms textured fitted body superior two-fold cotton tuxedo shirt. ABOVE: Francois is wearing a bespoke peaked sateen lapel tuxedo in a Dormeuil superfine wool fabric and a Stenströms pleated fitted body superior two-fold cotton tuxedo shirt.

Lisa dressed her table with a cloth she had made, and layered it with items she already had, as well as new decor items that blended beautifully with her theme. Each table setting had two underplates – one glass plate, and one black and gold rimmed underplate. The finishing touches to the table were stags with candles, various vessels filled with white peonies, Celebrate candles from the SOH Collection with festive scents, and various decor items that resonated with Lisa.

Homemade Mince Pies With Fresh Fruit & Spiced Gold

Take a break from the mass-produced pies – these beauties are the grown-up version, packed with sweet and spicy festive flavour. “Be warned,” says Ant, “plan ahead, the mincemeat needs a couple of days to develop.” Makes 24

Mincemeat: 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and grated •250g raisins or sultanas, chopped •110g dried apricots, finely chopped •175g soft dark brown sugar •zest and juice of 1 small orange •zest and juice of 1 lemon •50g almonds, chopped •1 tsp ground allspice •1/2 tsp ground nutmeg •1 tsp ground cinnamon •4 tbsp spiced gold rum, dark rum or brandy

Pastry: 350g plain flour •125g icing sugar •pinch of fine salt •125g cold butter, diced •5ml vanilla extract •2 medium eggs, beaten

Crumble topping: 75g plain flour •½ tsp ground cinnamon •50g butter, diced •50g brown sugar •3 tbsp almonds, chopped

Decorate: icing sugar for dusting

Mincemeat: Simply add all mincemeat ingredients to a bowl. Mix well, cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 48 hours, stirring every 6-8 hours.

Pastry: Add flour, icing sugar, salt and butter to a food processor or mixer, blend to fine crumbs. While blender is still running, add vanilla and egg, process until mixture is clumpy and holds together as a ball. If too wet, add flour, and if too dry, add teaspoons of iced water to bring the dough together. Knead for a minute until smooth, then wrap in cling film and refrigerate until firm, up to 48 hours. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 3mm thick and cut into rounds. Press each pastry round gently into each hole of a sprayed or buttered muffin or cupcake tray. Spoon a generous tablespoon of mincemeat into each pastry shell, then refrigerate. While chilling, preheat oven to 180°C.

Crumble topping: Combine all ingredients into a crumbly mixture, then work with your fingers to form clumps. Top mince pies with crumble. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until pastry and crumble are crisp and golden. Cool, then transfer to a wire rack. When completely cool, dust with icing sugar.

Lisa's tips

Texture: For fairly neutral colour tones, play with varying textures. On the table much of this is evident: Two large pewter stag candleholders (with ombre candles); small glass candle votives in black and gold glass; solid marble candle vessels; bone boxes; linen napery; velvet ribbons on hand-made paper with gold bells made by Indigo & Ivory Designs; gold foiling on handmade crackers (SOH Collection); leather boxes with brass edging; marble look black decorative boxes; mirrored disco balls; glass urns with marble and gold foiling detail; Perspex swizzle sticks; glass Christmas

trees; and fresh flowers to add softness. Height: I also like to use decor items of varying heights so that the table is not visually at one height, but has variance, which makes it interesting. I stacked bone boxes for height, and topped with other decorative items. Using candle sticks at different heights also helps achieve this, as do flowers which I used in two different vessels on this table.

Kids Easy Oatmeal Cookies With Cranberries, Apricots & Yogurt Frosting

Get the kiddos away from the screens for an hour to bake up these rustic, delicious Christmassy treats and decorate like the little lunatics they are.

Squares: 2 cups cake wheat flour •2 cups raw oats •1/2 tsp salt •1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda •280ml butter, melted •1 cup soft brown sugar, packed •3 tsp vanilla extract •80g dry cranberries, roughly chopped •1 cup of fruit jam

Yogurt frosting: 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt •6 heaped tbsp icing sugar •1 tsp vanilla extract

Squares: Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a square or rectangular pan with foil or baking paper (leave a bit overhanging on two sides for easy removal). Spray well with non-stick spray. In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, salt and bicarb of soda. In a separate large bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar and 3 teaspoons vanilla until well combined. Add cranberries, stir well until fully combined. Separate out about ¾ cup (just less than half) of the dough and set aside for topping. Add the bigger portion of dough to the prepared pan and press down into a flat, even layer. Bake for 10 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from oven and carefully spread jam on top of cookie base. Use the reserved dough to crumble over top of jam layer. Return to oven and bake for 14-16 more minutes, until topping is golden brown. Remove and place pan on a wire rack to cool, slice when half cool. These can be soft when they are warm – to firm up further, refrigerate.

Yogurt frosting: Mix yogurt, icing sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla (add a touch of milk if necessary to loosen), and decorate the cooled squares.