As business owners, we’re constantly told to set goals. I’ve even heard of some entrepreneurs and coaches recommending that you set 100s of goals.
Setting lots of goals is great- and I’m not saying it’s not an important part of business, but they can demotivate you as well as inspire you.
This piece looks at the importance of doing the groundwork around your goals, and what I advise my clients and others to do, so they can set goals to achieve success.
Goals are important, but so is the groundwork around them:
While goals are vital to stay on track, it’s only when you start to really look at some of the goals you set, that you begin to realise the changes you might need to make to achieve them.
It could be that you have to reduce how much time you spend with someone, or how much money you spend on something, but the point is that when you’ve invested a good amount of time setting a goal, and you know the consequences of it, you’re more likely to be 100% ‘in’ to achieve it.
Helping a younger version of myself, in a way I’d have wanted
Before one of my most recent clients signed up to my 90-day programme, he told me that he gets easily distracted, isn’t as organised as he’d like, and ultimately wants to make a number of changes so he can grow his business.
While I have clients in lots of different sectors, his business is in the construction industry, and his story reminds me of my own.
You might have read one of my previous articles, where I outlined that quoting for projects in my construction business left me feeling out of depth. One of the key learnings I had, particularly from one experience while running that business, was the importance of involving others.
It’s a lesson, like many others, that I learned the hard way, but with my new client I feel like I’m able to help a younger version of myself, in a way I’d have wanted when I was in his position.
Focusing on what he’s amazing at:
Something that I’ll be focusing on with him, something I wish I’d learned early on, was being clear on what he’s amazing at.
His business is in the early stages, but he has a clear talent in specific areas- so he needs to focus on those as much as possible, and bring in others to support him in the other parts.
The groundwork and his goals:
- Where is he now, and what got him here?
Thinking back to my first point about the groundwork behind goals, the first thing I’m going to focus on with him, and the first thing I focus on with all my clients, is understanding where he is right now, and what got him here.
By doing this, he’ll be able to properly reflect on what’s worked well for him so far, and truly understand what’s held him back.
- Getting clear on where he wants to go
By defining the vision he has for his business, and getting a real feel for that vision, he’ll have real clarity over where the business is going and why he wants to get there.
If you set a positive goal, something that’s in your control, and you can understand the reasons behind wanting to achieve that goal, you’re on the right path.
Without this, or if the goals don’t fit in with your values and identity, you’re likely to get demotivated when challenges appear.
- Then we can build the strategy:
Once we have these initial pieces of the puzzle in place, with a clear vision and well-defined goals, it’ll then be about building a strategy to help him achieve it, and supporting him to implement it.
It’s about laser focus:
By having those clear goals in mind, and the strategy to help you achieve them, you’re going to be more laser focused in what you do, because you can see the destination that you’re heading towards.
It’s almost like if you’re on a car journey somewhere, get a bump in the road, and have to change a tyre. You wouldn’t just decide to turn around, because you’ve got a destination to get to.
In previous articles I’ve highlighted how my businesses have grown out of control after an initially good start. I’m a great example then, of having that laser focus in the beginning of my businesses, but that a lack of accountability or support after I achieved many of the initial goals, meant I lost that focus.
How clear are you on your goals, and where your business is heading?
After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur, running businesses in seven different industries, I’m on a mission to help early-stage entrepreneurs avoid the mistakes I’ve made, to turn their distraction into action, and to grow their business.
If you’d like to find out how I could help you, please click here to book a discovery call.
