January 10, 2009

Follow These 12 Tips To Goal Setting If You Want To Be Successful

This is what I advise my small business clients when I see them wondering aimlessly in their business just hoping to achieve the success they deserve.

You will increase your success in business and effectiveness by focusing on yearly, monthly, weekly and even daily goals. Your goals are your road map to a successful future. They will determine the direction in which you are headed and ensure that you reach your destination. Here's how to set goals:

1. Identify goals that are consistent with your values, beliefs, and life philosophies.

2. Commit your goals to paper. Don't rely on your memory. Put them in a place where you will see them often.

3. Determine your goals. Make sure they are SMART, this is:
Specific ("I want to retire with $2 million in the bank by age sixty-five" is preferable to
saying "I want to make tons of money in order to retire");
Memorable;
Agreed upon;
Realistic;
Time-based.

4. Ensure that your goals are in sync with your morals and values. If you're like most people, millions of dollars won't make you happy if you have had to exploit people in the process of making the money.

5. Prioritize your goals. Focus on those that have greater meaning to you in terms of personal beliefs. If community volunteer work is something you place a great value on, for example, find ways of avoiding overtime and give yourself time to do the community work that appeals to you more.

6. Break your goals into short-, medium-, and long-range plans. This will allow you to stay focus and in touch with your final goal.

7. Make people aware of your goals. Tell a friend, advisor, and even your worst enemy. Contract with someone who will meet with you regularly to ensure that you remain on track.

8. Ask yourself if the goal has true value for you. It could just be an excuse to avoid doing something important but unpleasant.

9. Visualize yourself achieving your goal. Your vision will give you a sense of excitement and encourage you to keep on trying. At the same time, your business goals, although important, should not become an obsession. If this happens, you will upset the equilibrium between personal life and work, resulting in physical and mental deterioration.

10. Act on your goals regularly. True success comes from taking small steps. It is unlikely that you will make immediate huge gains without an enormous amount of luck. Therefore, focus on short-term goals that will lead to the longer goal. Try to do something each day that will move you closer to your goal.

11. Review your goals regularly. For example, monthly goals should be reviewed daily to keep you focused.

12. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may be.

Posted by David at 10:45 PM | Comments (0)

March 1, 2005

Time Pressures COuld Be Holding Back Businesses

90% of businesses surveyed spend less than two hours a week on business planning. British businesses are missing the potential to improve productivity gains because time pressures mean planning takes a back seat, according to research from DTIs Achieving best practice in your business and Management Today.

Nearly 95% of business managers and directors surveyed recognise that investing more time in day-today planning would improve overall business performance. However, 90% of businesses admitted to spending less than two hours each week on business planning with almost a quarter saying they simply don't have enough time in the week to plan properly.

The vast majority of the businesses surveyed (84%) are worried that they are not able to spend enough of their time planning to improve their business in a more proactive way.

Of the managers surveyed:
· 60% plan for their business whilst travelling to work
· 40% plan late at night
· 30% plan at weekends
· 25% plan for their business either on holiday or during gym /leisure activities

Ideas for business management, a publication from DTI's Achieving best practice in your business, looks at the key characteristics in successful business management, including strategy, leadership, and growth. This can be accessed via DTI's best business practice

David
Small Business Resource

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