Whether you have taken the time to write them down, or even consciously decided what they are, every business has goals. And, from my experience, the difference between long term success and luck in business is how well (and often) you articulate them. Goals are an important part of running a successful business. They clarify the purpose of the business, provide direction, and help identify the key actions to achieve success. The key when planning business goals is to understand whether they are short or long-term goals, and plan for both.
So what is a goal?
A goal is simply a statement of what you want to achieve. They help to clarify and bring your mission to life by providing tangible and measurable outcomes of success.
Goals don’t have to be big
While many business goals focus on things like profitability, growth, or customer service, setting simple goals around the number of clients you are working with, the number of sales, website visits, social media engagement, and daily activity can provide more tangible metrics to measure and track success.
For example, a to-do list, which many of us use every day, offer a simple way to track activity, providing a roadmap of what you need to accomplish. The habit of writing a to-do list, scheduling your time, and then working though each task creates the foundations of goal setting.
“Setting goals provides you with focus and direction”
Goals provide you and your team with focus and direction. Understanding what the goal is, and planning out the actions to achieve it, whether daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly, enables more focused effort and increased productivity. The Team know what they are working towards and can see the connection between daily activity and achieving the goal.
Setting Goals in 2022!
As business begins to ramp in, it’s the perfect time to reset your goals for the coming years. Remember, goal setting is not just about what you want to achieve in the next month or quarter, think bigger! Where do you want the business to be in 1 year, 3 years, 5 years?
Why does the future matter? Because everything you do today is setting the foundation for your future success. From posting on social media and creating the habit to follow up every client you work with, to launching a new program or product. Each activity or task you and your Team are doing are the building blocks of your business.
Setting your big hairy audacious goals can be a little daunting. You may even start thinking, is it too much? how will I make this happen? Is it possible? If you are feeling a little scared by your future goals – GOOD! That means you are stretching yourself. Remember, your 3- or 5-year goal SHOULD be audacious! Once you have your BHAG, it’s time to break it down into a series of small steps. Like a ladder, where your BHAG is on the top rung, consider each step you need to take to reach the top. These are your yearly, quarterly and monthly goals. Then, break each of these down until you have a clear picture of the steps you need to take.
Here are some tips on setting your goals this year.
Don’t Let Others Set the Goals for You
Ok – so we all love to look at what others are doing, But when setting your business goals remember, It’s YOUR business and they are YOUR GOALS! If you let others set your goals or modify them for you, then they are not yours anymore. If you let others decide for you, it becomes their goal – and can lead to losing ownership and commitment to the goal. Remember, own all the goals that you want to achieve.
Be clear on the goal
Clarity is the first step in setting goals. Start by defining – for yourself – what success is. How you will know if you achieve it, and what it looks and feels like. Once you are clear on what the end looks like, setting the goals and steps to achieve it become much easier. And, when you are clear you can plan!
Understand Your Goal!
Why is the goal important? Once you are clear about the goal – ask yourself, why is it important? If you don’t know why it is important to you, then it is likely it’s not your goal. Understanding what your real goals are will give you a stronger sense of purpose and motivation.
Be motivated. There is POWER in MOTIVATION.
When you start to achieve your goals, little by little, slowly but surely, it increases your belief and confidence – so don’t be afraid to start small and build up to the BHAG. Remember, there will always be some rough roads on the way to achieving your goals, but if you focus on the small steps, trust the process, and believe in yourself, you will be able to find a way through.n
