This week’s topic is Goal Setting! Or more accurately not goal setting! (and New Years Resolutions are so last century!)
Chances are – every second post on your linked in timeline at the beginning of January was talking about goal setting. My guess is that you fall into one of three camps (let me know if there are more!)
1. I am familiar with goal setting – and I have it in hand, thanks
2. I kinda know about goal setting – I am aware it is something that could benefit me, so can I get some help with that? And yes – all to happy to help!
3. Oh be quiet – all that talk about setting goals is just rubbish (had another word in mind but will be polite!)
Which one are you?
The usual evidence for goal setting will be aired – that people who set goals are xx% more likely to reach success (somehow quantifiable). And so if you are that sort of person that’s cool.
But not everyone is!
And the truth is that many people are still paralysed – not knowing the future of their business – will they even have a business in 3 months time (or three days).
Yes – hands up – I have been encouraging people to think about what they want this year. Where do you want to be at the end of December 2022? What do you want to be doing?
And that “what you want to be doing” might well include – NOT HAVING A BUSINESS. You may want to retire, or get a job or find an alternative way to survive. Most of us will have days when living on a remote island off-grid appeals!
Not every business that I work with has huge desires to “grow” their business. Not everyone wants a “six-figure sum” or a team, or a massive office building with flagpoles. In fact – there is evidence that some people are not comfortable with earning “too much”.
BUT! Here’s the thing.
We all have wants and desires. For ourselves and our loved ones.
(PS if you are committed goal setter keep reading– you might get some inspiration!)
We are all different but they might include:
• Finding a partner
• Raising a family
• Breeding horses
• Living on a remote island
• Living in Los Angeles
• Driving a supercar
• Travelling to Mars
• Trekking the Andes
• Walking from Lands End to John O’Groats (or a virtual challenge)
I could go on! What’s your “thing” for this year?
The first couple are – arguably – the most basic – but they are not for everyone – and many people have already accomplished them (if they wanted to in the first place!)
But imagine you want to live on a remote island and raise llamas (just me?). I think it’s unlikely that you are ready to go right now? So – what needs to happen before that can happen?
1. Earn a sum (what is that – how much?)
2. Visit prospective island
3. Close business
4. Sell house
5. Dispose of most of possessions!
6. Move to island
7. Buy llamas
Etc etc
It can be helpful to “start” with the end in mind – I will be on my island with my llamas by Sept 30th 2022 – and work back.
So that means I have to have bought the llamas by…
I have to have moved by..
I have to have sold all my worldly goods by….
You can think of these as “intentions” if you don’t want to call them goals. But – you do need to have them set out in some form if you want the “thing” to actually happen!
And it can be the same for your business – what do you actually want to happen? What do you intend for your business? You might need to spend 2022 running your business so that your Big Plan can happen in 2023 or later? That first step – earn £xx – how are you going to do that!?
Set out your intentions
Set out your intentions – they should still be time-related which is one of the attributes of a “SMART” goal. (Oh and I know that gets some people going too!) If you don’t have a date in mind for your first llama trek – then time just drifts and it never happens – you know that already, right!
Once you have your BIG intentions – then just break them down into smaller, more manageable, chunks. So that when you do a weekly plan you can have three intentions for the week that take you towards your end results – and on your daily plan three intentions that will move you towards those weekly intentions.
Every day – do SOMETHING that will move you towards that day. Whether it be checking out sources of llamas or calling a prospect.
So if you are a goal-setter and you made it to the end of this then what are your thoughts?
And if you detest the thought of the annual “goal setting frenzy” what has popped into your mind since you started reading this?
Get in touch if you’d like to chat about how I can help.
Buy my weekly/daily planning notebook – with space for your appointments and tasks – and your three intentions!