Inside Small Business | Small Business & Home Business Marketing

How to set Achievable, Challenging Business Goals

Jill Koenig, Author, Coach and Motivational Speaker

The Small Business is the lifeblood of today’s economy.

The main factors that cause a Small Business to become a Global force are contained within the Goals they set. Small Goals invite small effort. Big Goals inspire a much higher level of performance. Big Goals inspire miracles.

In the early days when Bill Gates’ business was small, consisting of just a few people, he set a Goal to have his software on every computer in the world. Remember he started in his garage. Most people at that time would have thought it was not an “achievable” Goal. However, Bill Gates believed it was possible and was fiercely committed to making it happen.

It was his burning desire.

He was clear about his Goal and now he is one of the richest men in the world, donating Billions of dollars to charity and it’s hard to imagine a world without his products and vision.

Within every small business lies the opportunity to become a giant, to become a global force. What makes a Goal “achievable” is whether or not you believe it is possible and your commitment to making it happen. Do you believe it and can you inspire the belief of the people around you and attract the support of others who can help make it happen.

The key to business growth is you MUST set challenging Goals that cause you to stretch. You must actively learn to think bigger, raise your game and expand your own mind and the minds of your team. You must make a concerted effort to stretch yourself every single day and train yourself to become a Goal Achieving machine.

The Goals you set for your business today will determine your Global Destiny tomorrow.

Here are the Ten Goal Setting Strategies for Small Business Success:

1. THIRST: You must have a burning desire for something, originating beyond mere hopes and ideas. You must have incentives, compelling dreams, a thirst, a hunger and desires that are so inspiring and motivating, they provide you and your team with enough internal drive to fuel you and keep you going when things don’t go as planned. The stronger your WHY, the more successful you will be. You must feel a magnetic pull towards something that is meaningful and significant to you. Your goals must inspire you and your team to perform at their best.

2. TARGETS: You must define the targets, the outcomes, the goals, the destinations clearly and in as much detail as you can. Use your imagination to visualize and experience the deep emotions of what it will feel like when your goal is achieved.

3. TASKS: Work backwards from your Targets and outcomes and map out the Tasks, activities and plan the Things you must do to advance towards your goal. A big goal is actually made up of several smaller goals or Tasks. Do the small Tasks and the big Goal WILL be realized.

4. TIME: It takes Time, a Timetable and effort to bring your dreams to life. It requires consistent, persistent, focused effort. Treat Time as a precious resource and invest it wisely. Create a Timetable and schedule your Tasks in your calendar, creating an action plan, broken down into small, manageable steps with a sequential order so that you know what will be done and when you will do it. As you create your Timetable, your goal becomes Tangible. Every Goal has it’s own gestation period. (for more on Time Management, review The Time Commandments!)

5. TEAM: Enlist a Team of Talented people in the form of coaches, partners, consultants, friends, family, Teachers, mentors, supporters, interns, employees, whatever it takes. The bigger the goal, the more outside support and contributors it will require. The Team you put together can make all the difference in the world. Surround yourself with positive people. When you are Taking Action and committed, people will be compelled to help you. Teamwork makes the dream work.

6. TENACITY: Be Tireless, persistent and unwavering in your commitment. Take 100% responsibility for the results you’re getting. Track your results and measure your progress. If you are not happy with your progress and results, take 100% responsibility for changing it. Adjust your plan or Timetable and Tap into your burning desire and act consistently every single day.

7. TRANSCEND: Transcend limitation. Courageously go beyond your comfort zone and propel yourself to new heights. Nothing is impossible and Growth only comes from going beyond and stretching yourself. Trust that anything you can envision and commit to, you can achieve.

8. TREASURE: Treasure the journey. Savor each moment you have been given. Savor the entire experience, the challenges, the growth and the lessons you encounter. Trust that they are there to Teach you and prepare you for future experiences. Trust that you are a vessel of infinite untapped potential. The more grateful you are, the more abundance you will attract.

9. TRIUMPH: Success! Your actions have resulted in the successful realization of your goal! You have followed through on your plan, reached the goal you envisioned, so celebrate your growth and accomplishments! Take time to revel in your achievements.

10. TITHE: Share your blessings with others. Give of your Time, Talents and pocketbook. Teach others your own unique expertise and be Thankful. Give encouragement, it’s free to give and priceless to those who receive it. Contribution to others will enrich your life in ways you cannot imagine. Support others in their journey in any way you can. It will come back to you Ten fold. Touch as many people as you can and leave a legacy that lasts beyond your lifetime.

The secret to growth is to set bigger Goals that scare you and inspire you to stretch.

Big, Bold Goals inspire Big, Bold action and create Big, Bold Results!

So take a look at your Goals. Will they lead you and your Business to the kind of future you envision?

The best way to predict the future is to create it.

Live Your Dreams

About the Author
Jill Koenig, the “Goal Guru’ is America’s Top Goal Strategist. A Best Selling Author, Coach and dynamic Motivational Speaker, she is an expert on the subjects of Goal Setting, Time Management and Business Success. She is the author of the book, Goal Rush! Her passion in life is helping you Achieve your Goals and Unleash your untapped potential. Learn Cutting Edge Goal Strategies and get your FREE Goal Setting CD at http://www.GoalGuru.com

Media Requests: Jill Koenig is a dynamic high-energy TV and radio guest available for interviews, teleseminars and corporate speaking engagements.

Ten Steps you Can Take to Guarantee Failure

Brad Isaac, Developer of Achieve IT!

In the hustle and bustle of this technologically packed world you may decide you really don’t want to achieve any lasting success in your lifetime. Sure, you can find a lot of strategies and tips here that can help you increase your success rate. But what about the people who are perfectly happy not achieving anything? Is it fair that I keep pushing and prodding if someone is content leaving behind a legacy of debt and mediocrity? hmmm…maybe not. So this is for all the people who want to have goals but not achieve them.

1. Make your goals vague – When setting your goals, use adjectives such as “more” and “some.” Goals like “I want to make more money” or “I want to lose some weight” virtually guarantee your progress will be minimal. Be as wishy-washy as possible. And while you’re at it, you might want to set a goal of getting a job doing something.

2. Make your goals difficult to visualize – A good way to do this is to keep changing your mind on the details of your goal. If you are thinking a goal such as: “I want to own a red, blue or yellow Corvette or just a Mustang”, then you are definitely on the right track. If you kept that goal planted firmly in your mind, you are virtually guaranteed you’ll never go above a used Hyundai.

3. Think and speak negatively about your goals – Try using words like “I can’t” and “It’s too hard”. Goals such as “I can’t get a promotion, It’s too hard to take on more responsibility” will certainly keep you at the bottom of the food chain. If you can put it in writing or work up enough courage to tell your boss directly, he or she will almost definitely avoid promoting you from that point on. Who knows, you might get lucky and get fired! It’s worth a shot anyway.

4. Avoid planning incremental steps – It’s likely that if you have made it this far you are already following this rule already! Take a goal – even a specific goal like “I will double my income by this time next year”. Then simply leave it as-is. Don’t write down any tasks or steps you’ll need to complete in order to achieve it. Just consider the goal a wish and nothing more. Creating a step-by-step plan will only confuse matters because it’s all too easy to take action on simple steps. Action in the direction of your goal would lead to success and you definitely don’t want that.

5. Don’t Do – Talk – Because talk is easier than action, this step one of the easiest steps for you to take. Try to fill up as much of your day with socializing as possible. Talk about all the things you will do someday or that you were going to do. Just make sure you don’t mess it up by doing anything productive. Action is your enemy. Embrace your excuses!

6. Wait until you are motivated – Let’s face it, it’s much too difficult to go jogging or open a mutual fund account when you simply don’t feel like it. So just wait. Waiting gives you the peace of mind that someday, you might do something. But not yet, the timing isn’t right and you aren’t motivated anyway.

7. Don’t set a date – Setting a date when you expect to achieve your goal is too much pressure. Who needs it? Definitely not you if you want to avoid progress. You know that goals with dates get done, so by not setting a date you avoid making a commitment. You can keep putting off stuff. Even though people may ask “When are you ever going to get around to reaching your target?”, you have a wild card. By not having a date, you can put off actually doing anything.

8. List why it’s impossible – Now we are getting into the mental game of failing. This is quite possibly your greatest weapon against achievement because it destroys hope and optimism. So as soon as possible, set aside some time to create a long list of how impossible your goal really is. No matter what your target is, I am sure you can come up with plenty of reasons why it’s impossible. Be creative, make up some if you have to (i.e. “It’s impossible for me to lose weight because I was kidnapped by space aliens and injected with a fat-serum.”) Bonus: You get extra points if you can come up with an excuse using UFOs, ghosts or the Bermuda Triangle.

9. Don’t research your goal – You’re the kind of guy or gal who likes to “wing it.” Reading about how others have succeeded achieving a goal similar to you is just a waste of time. Instead of standing on their shoulders, they should be standing on yours! Sure, they might have overcome unbelievable odds to get from homelessness to CEO or 450lbs to a 180lbs – but they were probably just “lucky” anyway. Don’t read anything that promises to help you get to your destination.

10. Think of anything except your goal – Here’s another mental strategy that will put you on the fast track to failure. Think of anything except for your goal. Why visualize success when there’re plenty of clouds, teddy bears, and TV reruns to think about? And while you’re at it, take action on these flights of fancy instead of your goal. I know what you’re thinking…you’re thinking, “I wonder if there are any green teddy bears out there?” Now you’re getting it! Focusing on your goal for long periods of time can be difficult and challenging. Thinking about unicorns is easy and fun. Take the easy path, that’s the only way you can fail in record time.

To conclude, I know you might be a bit overwhelmed with all the work you have to do to avoid reaching your goal. You might even think it’s even more work. Never fear! You can do it. Print out a copy and hang it on your bathroom mirror. Post it in your office. Read it every day. Internalize these principals and you can reach depths of failure you have possibly never imagined!

About the Author
Brad Isaac is best known for his bestselling Goal Setting software Achieve-IT! for Pocket PC and remarkably successful Pocket PC Addict website which he founded and still contributes to frequently. For more information or to contact Brad, visit www.persistenceunlimited.com.

10 Commandments of Goal Setting

Gary Ryan Blair, President of GoalsGuy

1. Thou Shall Be Decisive
Success is a choice. You must decide what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it. No one else can, will, or should do that for you.

2. Thou Shall Stay Focused
A close relative to being decisive, but your ability to sustain your focus from beginning to end determines the timing and condition of your outcomes.

3. Thou Shall Welcome Failure
The fundamental question is not whether you should accept failure. You have no choice but to expect it as a temporary condition on the pathway of progress. Rather, the question is how to anticipate failure and redirect resources to grow from the experience.

4. Thou Shall Write Down Thy Goals
Your mind while blessed with permanent memory is cursed with lousy recall. People forget things. Avoid the temptation of being cute; Write down your goals.

5. Thou Shall Plan Thoroughly
Planning saves 10 to 1 in execution. Proper planning prevents poor performance.

6. Thou Shall Involve Others
Nobody goes through life alone. Establish your own “Personal Board of Directors”, people whose wisdom, knowledge and character you respect to help you achieve your goals.

7. Thou Shall Take Purposeful Action
Success is not a spectator sport – achievement demands action. You cannot expect to arrive at success without having made the trip.

8. Thou Shall Reward Thyself
Rewards work! Think of what you will give yourself as a result of your hard work, focus and persistence – you deserve it!

9. Thou Shall Inspect What You Expect
The shelf life of all plans is limited. No plan holds up against opposition. Everything changes. Therefore inspect frequently and closely, it’s an insurance policy on your success.

10. Thou Shall Maintain Personal Integrity
Maintain your commitment to your commitment. Set your goals and promise yourself that you will achieve them. Eliminate wiggle room and excuses. That’s personal integrity!Gary Ryan Blair is President of The GoalsGuy. A visionary and gifted conceptual thinker, Gary is highly regarded as a speaker, consultant, strategic planner, and coach to leading companies throughout the globe. Visit The GoalsGuy at www.GoalsGuy.com