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“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” Pablo Picasso.
In a recent survey, more than 80% of small business owners said they don't keep track of their business goals, and 77% percent said they haven't achieved their vision for their company.
Oooh, LA LA …
Here's the thing...
Without goals and a process for tracking them, many small business owners will find it difficult to stay focused. That’s because setting even the smallest goals will help you gain clarity- which in turn will help you to create linkages between where you are presently, and where you want to be.
So let's get to it!
Here's 5 tips to get you started:
1. What’s your Dream?
Start focusing on the things you want to accomplish. These are your dreams - where you get to create the biggest version of your career, your business, your LIFE. Stop limiting yourself! Remember, it doesn’t have to be realistic at this point-so suspend those negative voices and go for the gold!
2. Brainstorm!!!
Once those dreams are written down, go ahead and start brainstorming! This allows you to unearth unexplored ideas-ideas that can add value to your product/service offering. How you do it isn't important – mapping, making a list, or a brain dump-the idea here, is to put down as many as you can on paper. This helps you to clarify what skills/talents you currently possess-you may be surprised at how many you have! and whether you also need to start looking at outsourcing those you need.
When the vision is clear, strategy is easy-Anon.
3. Start looking at your options
You'll now be taking all the information you've gathered in the first 2 steps - and start making sense of them. An easy way to do this is to create mental “boxes” where you can sort them out.
An example is to rank your ideas using descriptors to help you gain some perspective-which can include:
Your desired outcomes;
What kind of commitment this will require-time, finance, manpower, enhanced learning;
The financial outlay.
Keep in mind that your method isn’t important - but your process is. That's because as you create categories there'll be a natural overlap - which gives you a clearer picture of what you want and how you’ll achieve it. Themes will also emerge, allowing you to identify your most important goals.
4. Create the PLAN!
After the “sorting process”- 1 or 2 major ideas will emerge. They will still be loose, but it will help you to focus on what is important to your product offering/service delivery. If this is not the case, feel free to go back to the beginning-remember, nothing is set in stone!!! You can also use SMART Goal setting- Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Resource-based and Timely/Time-bound.
At this point, you should be also defining what specific actions you'll be taking in order to reach your goal. You'll also need to focus on “why” each goal is important to YOU! - and how you’ll feel once you achieve it.
Where focus goes, energy flows-Tony Robbins
5. Focus on TODAY!!!
Goal-setting can be overwhelming- but it’s very much like the old joke about how you eat an elephant….one bite at a time!!!
If you follow this rule, then you’ll break your goal into bite-sized chunks so that you’ll eat (and digest) - a small portion at a time. You'll then be able to build the needed momentum (and confidence) to get closer to your eventual outcome.
Focusing on each step won't make you lose sight of the “Big Picture”; however, using this method will ensure that you make steady and purposeful progress- allowing you to reach your destination.
So here it is - 5 ways to chart and measure your goals-it's not as overwhelming as it seems!
I've even included some extras-for more, go ahead and book a complimentary 15-minute session on Zoom!
Links to help you to set goals: