Without an effective plan you will have no idea where your business is going, what you can to do to move it towards your goals, and how you can evolve it to accommodate the economy you are in.
“The greater danger for most of us isn’t that our aim is too high and miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” ~ Michelangelo
To ensure goal achievement try using the well known SMART framework to help structure your plans.
Specific
In order that you have a clear understanding of what you’re doing to grow your business your goals need to be specific.
Use these powerful questions to focus your goal setting.
- What do I want to accomplish?
- Why is this goal important to me?
- Who else is involved?
- Which resources or limits are involved?
Measurable
A clear plan for measurement is the only way to know if and when you have achieved your goals. Results that you can measure will keep you focused and motivated.
Use these questions to focus your goals.
- How much?
- How many?
- How will I know when it is accomplished?
Achievable
Are you in a position to take action on achieving your goals? There is no point in setting yourself, your business, and your team (if you have one) up for failure by creating goals that you have no hope of taking action on. Ask yourself if you have the time and financial resources to achieve the goals that you set.
Relevant
One of the biggest killers of motivation and business success is unrealistic goal setting. By all means, go big with your goals, but tie them back to the other steps and understand how you can go about achieving them.
Timings
When do you want to achieve your goals by? Create clear time-based goals.
Ask yourself questions like:
- When?
- What can I do six months from now?
- What can I do six weeks from now?
- What can I do today?
Celebrate
Motivation comes from the rewards that you promise yourself. I include this as an additional area for you to think about when you are setting your SMART goals.
- How will you reward your success?
- Who will you celebrate with?