Creating goals for ourselves is the only way to get ahead in business, particularly if you’re a one-man (or woman) show. It’s so easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day that somehow the big picture, or the vision that we once had, is a distant memory and can sometimes seem further away than when we started.
This is where the skill of clear-cut goal setting comes in – and it’s serious business! No, it’s not a list on the back of an envelope, sitting in your ‘to-do’ pile. It’s about setting a Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely plan (otherwise known as SMART goals) to achieve your dreams.
It’s a practice we love here at Green Goodness Co and thought we’d share our tips with you on how to make things happen in your business:
- Write it down
This probably sounds super basic, but it’s amazing how many people don’t actually do it – and then wonder why nothing is happening. Buy a new notebook and pen that you will carry in your bag every day or open a new Word doc that is saved to the desktop of the computer screen you look at 40 hours a week. Maybe even have a beautiful print made and hang it up in the studio or office and, trust us, this constant reminder is the best way to remember your goals – in detail – while on the road to achieving them!
- Break it down
Break each goal down into small, bite-size pieces so they aren’t so scary. If your goal is to start a business blog, for example, break it down into small steps such as researching, buying a domain name, choosing a platform and finding a design.
- Share
Tell your list of goals to anyone who will listen. Why? One word: Accountability. We all are more likely to do something, to stick to our guns, to commit if we feel we don’t want to let others down. It also spreads the enthusiasm. Just like starting a fitness challenge, share the news with your best friends because they’ll keep you motivated.
- Set deadlines
We all need deadlines because it’s human nature to procrastinate. Give each of your goals (including each and every broken-down step) a deadline. And then share that, too!
- Schedule
Know you have your deadlines, set aside the time each day, week or month to work on them. All those deadlines – that were important enough for you to take the time to write down – should be put into your diary (digital or physical) to mark their importance and to remind you to do them, of course.
- Reflect
You may not meet every deadline because life has an annoying little habit of getting in the way. So reflect and amend. Moving the goalposts usually means you’ve done some critical thinking, assessed the situation and realigned your step. It is crucial to reflect because what works for you today may not in 3 months’ time, and it’s the conscious thought behind ‘why’ that is the most important part.
- Be kind
All the greats have experience what is like to miss the mark, not quite reach their target, or to lose money, respect and/or power. But what separates them from the rest is tried again, armed with the learnings of past. Remember: There’s no failing, only learning. So be kind to yourself. Reflect and amend, or perhaps go back to the start and set some new goals. There’s no rules.
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