With the New Year upon us, it’s time to start thinking about what we would like to see for ourselves and our businesses as we move into 2024. That’s right friends, it's time to set our goals for the next 6 to 12 months. I know we’ve all set goals before, but if you’ve ever struggled with setting and reaching goals within a timely manner or you’ve never had anyone guide you through a goal setting session. This post was created with you in mind. In this article, you will discover a few essential goal setting tips to help you not only establish your goals but also track your progress.
Before you get started setting your goals for this year, I highly recommend that you clear your mind and create a zen environment where you can think clearly without distractions. Go for a walk in your neighborhood or park. Listen to calming music or ambient sounds of nature, and allow yourself to find a place of mental peace and clarity before you settle in to focus on your vision for the future. Once you’ve cleared your thoughts, I want you to begin writing.
Tip #1. Write your goals.
According to Psychology professor Dr. Gail Matthews of Dominican University in California, “you are 42 percent more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down.” Putting your goals on paper or writing them out in some way helps you to refine more abstract concepts into something more concrete. Getting your goals out of your head and on paper can also help motivate you to do what it takes to achieve those goals.
As you’re writing your goals, make sure to be specific. For example, don’t just write that you want to make more money or get more clients. Instead, express how much money you want to make in a month or how many new clients you want to work with each week. Using words such as more or less can be too general when it comes to setting goals. In fact, if you truly want to track your goals progress, you should use numbers and dates when setting goals.
Tip #2. Make sure your goals are measurable.
In business, sometimes all you have is your gut or your instinct. However, using the data is definitely a better option when the numbers are available. In the previous tip, we talked about getting specific when it comes to goals. Instead of saying you want more sales, I encourage you to set the goal of achieving 5% more sales each month. Of course, your goal can be much higher than 5%, but if you set a benchmark such as 5% or $20,000 then you will know when you’ve achieved your goal and how close you came if you missed the mark.
Setting a measurable goal will also help you stay on track along the way. For instance, if your monthly sales goal is $20,000, and by the 15th of the month you’ve had $7,000 in sales. You will know that you need to pick up the pace and you can motivate your staff to increase sales so that you can hit your goal within the last half of the month.
Tip #3. Set a tentative timeline.
Similar to having measurable goals, setting a tentative timeline can also help you stay on track as time moves on. Of course, you could set a hard deadline, but let's just be real, things come up from time to time. *Que a random pandemic*
In the event of surprises or unforeseen circumstances, your deadline may no longer be feasible. That is why I say to set a tentative timeline of when you want to achieve your goal(s). Since you are going to write down or make a visual representation of your goals, continue to look at these goals as the deadline approaches. Then, reassess the deadline as life unfolds.
Did you hire additional staff members? Do you have new equipment? Maybe the timeline on your goal can be pushed up a bit. Did you have to move unexpectedly or did a piece of equipment go out of commission? Maybe the timeline for your goal should be pushed back a bit. Try your best to maintain your timeline, but also be realistic with yourself given your current set of circumstances.
Tip #4. Commit to accountability.
Whether you hold yourself accountable with a coach, peer or family member, you need to find a way to stay committed to achieving your goals. I’m not suggesting that you go public on social media about your private goals. However, sharing your goals with someone close who is going to call you out when you slack off will help.
When it comes to an accountability partner, make sure you find someone who can comprehend what you're going through and knows how to speak your “motivational language”. Are you someone who needs positive reinforcement or do you work better when someone calls you on the carpet? Make sure that your accountability partner knows how to say the things you need to hear so that you will stay encouraged, uplifted and motivated at the same time.
Tip #5. Prioritize your goals.
Every year, it never fails. I come across folks who try to do too much at one time when it comes to their goals. They want to make all of the money, lose all of the weight, and buy all of the things all within a short amount of time. However, that is just not realistic nor is it sustainable. Those same folks end up feeling overwhelmed within the first few weeks and often lose motivation and give up.
One of my best tips that I can give when it comes to goal setting is to go slow and steady. Focus on “low hanging fruit”. These are smaller goals that won’t take much to knock out within the first few weeks. Taking care of these smaller goals will help boost your confidence and help increase your motivation to keep going so that you can tackle those larger goals which may take a little longer to achieve.
Tip #6. Visualize Success
What does success look like to you? We discussed writing down or creating a visual representation of your goals. I also want you to take time to meditate on that visual. Imagine how you will feel when you hit your goal. What emotions will you have? How will your life or your business look different?
As I mentioned earlier, you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. Beyond that, people who “very vividly describe or picture their goals are anywhere from 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to successfully accomplish their goals than people who don’t.” So, it’s to your benefit not only to take time to write down your goals but to review and visualize them to help solidify the vision that you have for your future.
In summary...
There are a ton of factors that will impact your goal success. However, these previous six tips can help you get started. You obviously need to put in the work, but these tips can help you set clear, concise and measurable goals. Things will change and life is going to happen. However, just make sure to stay focused on the life that you want to SEE for yourself and your business in the future.
Cyd N. Mitchell
Business Blogger, Retail Bakers of America
Cydni N. Mitchell (aka Cyd) is a Bakery Consultant and the Sweet Business Coach behind Sweet Fest®. Based in Atlanta, GA, Sweet Fest® is an online company that supports the business needs of the Sweet Community in the areas of professional development, marketing, branding and web design.
By trade, Cyd is an accountant & financial analyst with a Masters from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the Founder of the Sugar Coin Academy, an online business academy for business owners in the baking and sweets industry, and she is also the organizer of The Ultimate Sugar Show, Georgia’s Largest Annual Baking and Sweets Expo in Atlanta. She is also the Business Blogger for the Retail Bakers of America.