This question both inspires and strikes a little fear. How WILL it be different? Will you continue to grow at the same rate you have this past year? Will you take steps to dramatically increase the amount of business you currently have? What will you do different? And, to be honest, will you do anything different or be pretty much in the same spot this time next year?
It’s easy to feel optimistic about the upcoming year. It’s why so many resolutions are set, so much hope prevails for the new days ahead. However, what’s fun and exciting to think about in December, with the mist of holidays and swirls of fun social events to get caught up in, will be little more than a vague memory in April. The best laid plans can easily go astray by doing one thing…nothing.
In other words, if you are to make a dramatic change in your course of business, you must take the steps to do what it takes. That sounds easy to say, not so easy to do. But really, if you break down those steps into small, enjoyable chunks, they are not so overwhelming. If you write down 5-20 goals for the year you are on your way.
Be specific. Don’t say “I want to grow my business.” Say “I want to double my customer base and have gross sales of $$$ amount by December 31, 2009.” If you have 46 current customers, it’s easy to know that means you want 92 customers by the end of 2009. If your sales were $27,000, you know you want to have sales of $54,000 by the end of next year. There is no ambiguity or guesswork involved. Be clear about what you want.
In addition to a specific goal, be sure to WRITE IT DOWN. Do not just think it. If you take time to write it down, you will be able to hold yourself accountable and cement this goal in your head. Periodically throughout the year you can read through your goals and see how if you are on track to achieving them.
Make some goals easy, some lofty. If you set goals that are just slightly out-of-reach, you will challenge yourself. By making some easy, you will feel great when you can open your list and check them off. It will help motivate you to continue. Write down as many as 20 but set deadlines on each. That way if you have 7 to complete by the end of February, you can attack those first. This helps you stay focused and doesn’t overwhelm you by not knowing where to start.
In addition, if you tell someone or share your goals list with someone, you will be held accountable. This is tough one. It’s easy to keep your goals to yourself, but if you share them with someone, you know you will have the answer for yourself. Match up with a supportive friend or a goals-buddy. This person will help you stay on track. Don’t set yourself up with someone who will let you off the hook easily. Choose someone who will call you on missing your deadlines, if necessary.
We talk a lot about goals in PUMP and with good reason. If you just float along this year in the same way you did last, will you be satisfied? You’ll be another year older anyway, you may as well be closer to where you want to be in life. The days go by quickly and before you know it we’ll be talking about 2010. Yikes! Better get busy! Enjoy your upcoming holidays, relax and de-stress because you know you have a busy year ahead.
K. Moehr, president of Moehr and Associates, a specialty marketing and publishing firm.
Ready for success? Take our Direct Seller Boot Camp Challenge: 30 Days to Success! A simple step-by-step program including our 30-Day Success Calendar. Do one thing a day and be amazed at your growth! Visit: http://www.directsalespower.com
Tags: accountable, achieving, ambiguity, best laid plans, break down, cement, chunks, customer base, december 31, do what it takes, dramatic change, dramatically, enjoyable, gross sales, optimistic, resolutions, set goals, swirls, take time, vague memory
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