|
Set Personal and Business Goals that Matter--And Meet Them!
|
Strategies to help you achieve greatness through discipline, focus and a
clear idea of what you want to accomplish.
By Kelley Robertson
Another year is upon us and if you are like most
people you have hit the floor running without
planning a clear objective for the upcoming year.
However, top performing sales people make the
time to establish clear targets. Setting goals is
not a complicated process nor does it take a lot
of time. Use the techniques listed below to help
you achieve your targets.
Ensure each of your goals follows the
SMART concept: Specific, Motivational,
Action-oriented, Relevant to your situation,
Time-bound. For example, "I will increase my
sales by 15% compared to last year." Be as
specific about your goal as possible. "I will
start my own catering business" is a lot stronger
than "I want to go into business for myself."
Challenging goals are motivating. Set goals that
will push beyond what you usually think you can
accomplish. Remember to set a deadline. A goal
without a deadline is simply a dream. Attach a
realistic yet challenging deadline for
accomplishment and post this where you can review
it regularly.
Phrase your goals in the present tense
and assume success. Don't say, "I want to." Say,
"I will." This subtle technique tells your
subconscious that you have already achieved your
goal which means it will go work at helping the
goal become a reality. It will attract the
people, places, and situations you need to
achieve that goal.
Put them in writing. This simple act
helps you clarify your goals and will allow you
to visualize them more effectively. I recommend
that you record each goal on a separate index
card and review them twice a day - once in the
morning (when you first wake up) and again before
you go to bed. This process reinforces your
goals, acts as a reminder and drives your goals
deep into your subconscious. In fact, this is one
of the most powerful strategies you can use to
achieve your targets.
List the benefits you intend to receive
by achieving each goal. This will keep you
focused and strong particularly when you face the
inevitable roadblocks and barriers. Years ago,
when I chose to quit smoking, I listed 75
benefits and when I felt the urge for a cigarette
I would review this list to help me get past that
craving. The more benefits you can list for your
goals, the more motivating those goals will
become.
As you review your goals each morning and
evening, picture yourself achieving each of them.
The more you can "see" success in your mind's
eye, the more likely you can translate this into
reality. Create a perfect picture in your mind
and replay it frequently. Developing a picture
board can help with this. This is a very
effective tool that allows you to see the visual
impact of achieving your goals. When my wife and
I bought our first house, we clipped photographs
and pictures of what we wanted our house to have
and pasted them on to a large sheet of poster
board. We hung this near the front door of our
apartment so we could see it every time we left
or entered the apartment. We also created a
thermometer of "down-payment savings" to help us
track our progress. We had a clear deadline and
were able to surpass this deadline by almost 30
days. I now keep track of my annual revenues,
speaking engagements and book sales in the same
manner. I post these sheets on my office wall
where I can see them every day; they allow me to
track my progress with a quick glance.
Anticipate the challenges you will
encounter and plan how you will overcome them.
This will prepare you for them and help you
overcome the obstacles easier and with less
stress. In fact, the simple act of planning for
obstacles will often prevent many of them from
occurring.
Surround yourself with successful,
motivated people who also set challenging goals.
I share my goals with several friends and
associates. When we get together, we motivate
each other by talking about our success, our
challenges, and our goals. A word of caution: Be
careful who you share your goals with. People who
are not goal-oriented will not support you, and
in many cases, will actually try to dissuade you
from your goals.
Use affirmations. If you plan to quit
smoking repeat statement such as, "I enjoy the
lifestyle of a non-smoker," "I'm glad I'm a
non-smoker," "I enjoy the taste of food more as a
non-smoker." Stating affirmations aloud,
reinforces your goal to your mind and will help
you achieve your goal much faster.
Take action. Don't procrastinate. All the
planning in the world will not help you achieve
your goals. You MUST take action. Once you have
determined a goal for yourself, take action
within 24 hours. This will set the wheels in
motion and create the necessary momentum you
need. I once heard a speaker state, "We are
either moving toward or away from our goals."
Develop the habit of taking action on a daily
basis.
Achieving greatness is not that difficult.
However, it does require discipline, focus and a
clear idea of what you want to accomplish. Follow
these steps and have your best year ever!
Kelley Robertson, President of the Robertson Training Group, works with businesses to help them increase their sales and motivate their
employees. He is also the author of "Stop, Ask & Listen - How to welcome your customers and increase your sales." For information on his
programs, visit his website at www.RobertsonTrainingGroup.com. Receive a FREE copy of "100 Ways to Increase Your Sales" by subscribing to his 59-Second Tip, a free weekly e-zine available at his website.
|
|
