By Linda Feinholz, “Your High Payoff Catalyst”
90% of professionals are just ‘in motion’ in their business. They don’t have any expectations, goals, or path they’re following. Their results are incremental and their business growth may even be based on the efforts of others more than their own.
If you prefer to be in the 10% who are steering their own path to their own success, then take a look at the commitments you’ve made in the past, and the ones that still serve you in building your business.
Each year at this time I usually do a quick ‘re-set’ for the next 12-months. You can think of it as hitting the ‘reset’ button on an electrical outlet – it doesn’t change my purpose, or my fundamental vision. But it sure clears out the distractions, frustrations and amnesia that creep in as I spend time in the trenches of my business.
1. Reset Your “Focus”
Some years I make slight course corrections. Others times I radically redesign my business and life focus. I could not do either of those effectively if I didn’t do it deliberately.
Spend some time re-thinking your big picture for the coming year. Do you want to change your professional role or image in your market place? What do you want to be known for? Do you want a life style business? A job? A professionally managed company?
Write it down.
2. Create A Revenue Goal
98% of professionals surveyed couldn’t honestly name their financial goals. And their results are equally vague.
In contrast, one of my consulting colleagues has been crystal clear with his revenue goals for the past 5 years. The year he said “$200,000″ he made $195,000. The year he said ‘double that’ he did. The year he declared his target was $1,000,000 in sales, he hit $800,000. When he pushed for $2,000,000 the following year he hit that target in November.
By setting his goal, he aligned all his activities behind that goal. Even when he ‘missed’ the target his results were impressive, don’t you think? I know I do
What target are you aiming for? Pick a number you can see happening. If it’s unrealistic you won’t put any energy in to achieving it. If it doesn’t stretch you from the results you have right now, you won’t have any motivation to give it attention. Choose a number that isn’t wishful thinking but does get you thinking about what you’ll do with that money!
Write it down.
3. Outline A “Mini Plan”
Plans are made to be road maps and guidelines, not rule books. Just like a cross-country trip you’ll drive, you want to know the major stops along the way. You won’t need to know all the towns and truck stops you’ll be passing, just the ones that will feed you, gas up your car and get you to the sites you want to visit.
What are the 5 key events that you need to accomplish to hit your Goal? What are 3 activities you’ll focus on that will drive you to the events on a daily or weekly basis?
Write it down.
4. Identify The Obstacles To Your GoalMost often, the biggest obstacle is not your competition, your pricing, or your unique selling proposition. It’s your Distractions! Most of my coaching time with my clients is spent on clearing out the items that have their attention “everywhere but” on accomplishing their Goal. Those distractions are energy wasters and time suckers and productivity killers.
Get clear on your boundaries – what you’ll spend time on and what you won’t.
Everything on the “won’t” list needs a home. It might be in your “Long Term” list of things to think about, or in your “I’ll Do It Tomorrow” list. Even better is if it’s on your “Delegate It Today!” list. And when it doesn’t fit immediately on those lists, it’s a complete and utter distraction – dump it!
If it’s on YOUR list, or your delegation list then …
Write it down.
5. Get A Support System In Place
Do you keep waiting ‘until…’? I mean “until I’m missed my goals” or “until I run into problems” or “until I’m frustrated enough” or “until the right person for the job show up” or…
You get what I mean.
If you keep waiting ‘until’ then you’re already behind and making it hard on yourself. STOP THAT! Get set up with a system that will keep you on track from the very start.
For some people, “support” means working with a coach – someone to help you learn how to get to your destination more effectively. For others “support” means a MasterMind group to run ideas by and have a community of minds offering their observations and knowledge. It may mean it’s time to bring on partners, staff or collaborate with another organization.
Write it down.
Here are this year’s High Payoff Commitments. Take everything you’ve written down and pull out your calendar and transfer everything you wrote down into that calendar.
Every time you look at a meeting request or email message you know if it’s helping you meet your goals. And as you plan your own actions, you’ll find them useful in getting all of your energy streamlined and focused where you want it in the coming year.
