How many times have you done this? You start a new year by creating new goals because you're about to have the BEST. YEAR. EVER.
And then a week or two into the new year, it starts.
You've fallen off your carefully laid out diet/exercise plan.
You've fallen behind on your business goals and the plan seems daunting.
You've already splurged on a shopping trip and blown your carefully crafted new budget.
And most people end up throwing up their hands and going back to the old, comfortable way.
Dreams of the BEST YEAR EVER fall away and it becomes business as usual.
For YEARS I was the person giving up on my goals by January 15th. It just seemed SO HARD to change.
But then...
I decided that was enough.
I was done giving up on me. I was done giving up on what I wanted simply because it was uncomfortable to change.
Last year was the first year that I stayed focused on my 3 big goals:
Goal 1: Redefine my business and create a movement around small business marketing.
Goal 2: Stick to my diet plan that my doctor and I created.
Goal 3: Exercise for an hour at least 3 days a week.
I was mostly successful. Here are my results:
Goal 1
I walked away from a corporate consulting contract I'd had for over 3 ½ years to focus full time on working with many more entrepreneurs and business owners helping them go from the best-kept secret around to sold out with clients loving them. This work was meaningful and FUN but required me to give up the known for the unknown.
Goal 2
I lost over 60 pounds, which seemed like a HUGE goal and took the most effort.
Goal 3
I exercised at least one hour 3 days a week (except one week when I had the flu). And as a result, I completed two 5k races which I hadn't done in over 9 years.
So what changed last year vs. all the other years I've tried goal setting (and failed)?
Simple: These goals were deeply meaningful and I knew WHY I needed to commit them.
In years past when I gave up on my goals, I always set goals I thought I **SHOULD** accomplish.
But if I was honest, I wasn't really committed to them. Those past goals were big *pie in the sky* dreams that sounded good... but I didn't believe I could achieve those past goals, so I didn't follow through.
So what's the secret to successful business goal setting?
The secret isn't to dream big, impossible dreams.
Sure, you can dream those big dreams for your business and life. But don't stop at the pie in the sky dream - make it real by outlining the consequences of not following through.
Following are the four main areas I ask myself to take my dreams from fuzzy, unrealistic dreams to actual daily commitments so I easily achieve my goals:
1. What are the consequences of NOT following through on this goal?
2. What are the benefits of following through? How will I reward myself?
3. What do I REALLY need to pull this off? What tools, support and resources will make this possible?
4. What are the specific ACTIONS I commit to focus on every single day to make this a reality?
Make 2016 your year to follow through on your goals. Even if you've already fallen off your goals, don't let them slip away. Instead, ask these four questions and commit to making your business goals a reality.
If growing your business is one of your goals for the year, join Tame the Marketing Monster, a free Facebook community where small business owners, entrepreneurs and solopreneurs get valuable (and free) training, resources and community to stay on track with their growth goals. Join here (it's free).