As you set goals, consider these three guidelines. (Although most people don’t think of the third one, it’s just as important as the first two).
#1 - Achievement Goals
An “achievement goal” is something you want to accomplish - such as a level of production or personal income.
Make sure every achievement goal you set has these qualities:
- Measurable - You’ll know clearly when you’ve hit the goal.
- Timed - Set finite time to reach the goal. All sports have a time limit (or clear end-point) for a reason: creating the sense of urgency needed to get productive and stay productive.
- Challenging - If it’s something you’re going to do anyway, there’s no need to set it as a goal. Stretch yourself (and your staff).
- Achievable - The goal can’t be too far of a stretch. If you can imagine yourself reaching the goal, then you can achieve it.
- Celebratory - It’s helpful to build in some sort of fun or celebration for when you reach your goal. This can sustain you when things get tough.
#2 - Behavioral Goals
Once you have clear Achievement Goals, get to work on your “behavioral” goals. What daily and weekly habits and routines must you follow to help you reach your Achievement Goals? Without attending to the behavior necessary, you’re really just dreaming. Dreams are good - I’d never ask someone to stop dreaming. You can achieve your dreams following the steps in this article.
#3 - Letting Go
Every year I plant a bunch of geraniums around my house. They thrive in a variety of conditions and always look great. However, to keep them at their best, I have to pinch off the blooms that have faded. This stimulates the plant to produce new blooms.
What do you need to “pinch off” or let go of to achieve your goals? What activities or habits no longer serve you and your business? You probably have a few “great ideas” that just never turned out as well as you’d wish they had. Is it time to let go and make room for new ideas? Stop wasting time that you need to free up for new actions.
If you haven’t achieved certain goals, ask yourself:
- Were they bad goals?
- Did you change your actions to achieve them?
- Do you need to let go of other things that are keeping you from spending the right amount of time or engaging in the right actions to achieve these goals?
Remember: Letting go is as important as taking on!
I’m curious. What are you doing to get more referrals, introductions, appointments, and turn those prospects into new clients? Send me your best practices so I can share them with others. What are your greatest challenges? Send them to me and I’ll do my best to help. My direct email is [email protected].