While the New Year typically indicates the start of many attempts to lose weight and become a better person, it also marks the time when many businesses begin to strive toward their 2016 company goals. 

We reached out to Delivery Drivers, Inc. to find out how the company delivers and conquers its goals every year.

Courier Magazine: Does your business create business goals every year?

Delivery Drivers, Inc.: Delivery Drivers, Inc. involves each of its departments in annual goal setting. We schedule multiple days in November and December each year to set the strategy for the following year. It is something that we take seriously. 

Each department manager is given "homework" prior to the strategy sessions and they are asked to do a number of things, including: looking back at the previous year to analyze what worked and what didn't, a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), and a SSC (Start, Stop, and Continue) breakdown. From the results of these assignments, our company is able to generate a focused list of objectives for the following year. We set annual goals related to culture, manpower, revenues, profitability, etc.

An example from our 2014 Strategy Meeting, in which we set goals for 2015, was the goal to end 2015 with a client-base of 20 percent that was outside of our primary industry. We're likely going to miss the goal, but because it was a focus, we were able to reach new industries and customers with our business and have a great opportunity for continued growth in 2016. [Courier Magazine spoke to DDI before the start of 2016.]

CM: What types of goals does the company make?

DDI: We set the typical goals around revenue, profitability, new sales, etc. One of the things that we’re most proud of is the attention we give to people. We always set goals around improving our culture, employee satisfaction, compensation, and more. 

CM: If a goal isn’t achieved how do you address it the following year?

DDI: We first determine why the goal wasn't achieved. Was it a matter of effort? Focus? Were there outside or uncontrollable factors that caused us to miss the goal? Was it a good goal? Was it a smart goal? Once we determine a goal was appropriate, we analyze the reasons why the goal was missed and set a new goal, along with strategies and tactics to accomplish it in the New Year. 

CM: What goals did you make last year and were they achieved?

DDI: We set and achieved sales goals as they related to new business. Our company now services companies in five unique industries. We've diversified our client base successfully.

We may have missed some of our growth goals, but we're proud of what we accomplished. Our largest client sold its business to a publicly traded company. We were not retained after the transition, yet we've still had revenue growth year after year. 

CM: What are your business goals for 2016?

DDI: Our strategy session was scheduled for early December. We set goals at the conclusion of that process. It is fair to say that we'll be very aggressive in our 2016 goals, specifically related to growth, both in terms of new business and revenue. 

CM: How do you get employees engaged to achieve business goals?

DDI: We include everyone in the process by empowering them to bring their own ideas to the table. By promoting freedom and autonomy early in the process, we're able to collaborate effectively when it comes time to put pen to paper. We've adopted many ideas and procedures created and developed by employees on their own. We credit and celebrate those employees who contribute to meaningful change and growth. 

CM: Are certain people at the company given specific goals to achieve, or are all goals "company-wide?"

DDI: A bit of both. Certainly when we're discussing annual goals, the focus is on the company. However, for the company to hit its goals, individual departments and employees must set and achieve their goals. 

CM: Are there any company-wide celebrations to commemorate success?

DDI: Our CEO Aaron Hageman does a fantastic job at promoting celebration. We make it a focus at our annual holiday party to discuss and toast what was achieved through the year. He's also extremely generous with individual bonuses, which are tied to company achievement. 

CM: Overall, what does the New Year mean to your company and its founders?

DDI: Each year is a fresh start. I liken it to a baseball season. Each spring, fans of every Major League Baseball team have a new energy strengthened by hope -- hope for a better season than the season before. Our executive team carries a similar enthusiasm into each year. We understand that at the end of the day, by achieving our company goals, we create a better future for our families and ourselves.