Getting Started

Kickstart your business

Do you set specific goals or targets for yourself or your business at the start of the year? In today's hectic world there are many demands on your time and attention. If you don't make a conscious effort to determine where you are going, in terms of life and business direction; where you are investing your time and energy, you will constantly be reacting to the demands of others.

You may compile lists of things to do to run your business, perform your job, stay on top of chores, but how many times have you written down exactly what you want to achieve with your business (or in life in general)? Only 3% of people write down their goals, but research has shown again and again, that individuals, who write out their personal and business goals and review them regularly, are the ones who succeed in their chosen fields. If you think about it, how will you know if you're on the right track unless you know your destination!

Most people live their lives on autopilot, doing the same routine day in day out, year in year out. A definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result each time! So if you want different business results in the year ahead, you will need to do something different, and where better to start than determining what you want to achieve. People who lack motivation do not have compelling goals that they are working towards. Motivation always requires motive, the reasons why something is important to you. Motivation also requires action, doing something in an effort to take you closer to your goal. If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always gotten!

If you have not written out goals for yourself or your business in the past, why not start now. You have nothing to lose and only new ideas, new insights and success to gain! To help get you started, answer the eight questions below.

• What would you like your biggest success to be over the next 12 months?
• What would you most like to change about your business over the next 12 months?
• What would you most like to change about yourself over the next 12 months?
• What is the major effort you are planning, to improve your sales and profit figures over the next 12 months?
• What would you be most happy about achieving over the next 12 months?
• Based on the concept that it is 'what you learn after you know it all that counts', what are you looking forward to learning over the next 12 months?
• What is the one as yet undeveloped area of your business (or life) that you are willing to explore over the next 12 months?
• What brings you the most joy and how are you going to have more of it over the next 12 months?

If you are still feeling less than inspired, here are two further questions that will get you thinking.

• What have you always dreamed about doing but felt too scared to try?
• What would you do if you could wake up tomorrow having had your self-consciousness removed? You would no longer fear being judged, looking foolish or feeling embarrassed. What chances would you take? What new things would you try?

To transform your answers into goals, put a completion or target date beside them, otherwise they will remain vague statements, not results you are committed to.

Here are 5 more tips for staying on track :

• Make sure you write down your goals 'ink them don't think them'. Seeing them written down, they become more real.
• Make sure your goals have a positive intent. 'I don't want to go out of business' is a negatively worded goal. Having a 'thriving business' is a positive goal.
• Incorporate your goals into your daily or weekly 'to-do' lists taking regular action towards achieving them becomes part of your working day.
• Share your goals with employees, friends and colleagues so they know what you want to achieve and will support your endeavours.
• Monitor your progress and if you are not getting the results you desire then try something different.

If you make the effort and write out your list of goals, don't file it away. Act on it, review it, and build momentum. If you complete this exercise and start to forge goals for yourself, you are doing something that the vast majority of the population never do. What you achieve over the next twelve months will be the result of today's thoughts and actions. Good luck!

Want to use this article on your own website or e-zine Find out how »