Why do so many small business owners set goals and fail to accomplish them?
As we’ve seen in Part 1 and Part 2 of our goal-setting series, one of the biggest reasons for failure has to do with setting goals that are simply too big.
Instead of declaring what you’d like to achieve in 2015 over the course of 12 months, it’s much more effective to break up goals into manageable 90-day cycles.
Once you’ve set 90-day goals as recommended in Part 1, and broken those goals down into manageable action steps as recommended in Part 2, the next step is monitoring your results.
In Part 3 of our goal-setting series, we’ll show you the most effective ways to track and measure your results to ensure you’re well on your way to achieving everything you’re dreaming of for a great 2015.
Do a Weekly Recap
When you begin a 90-day cycle, it can feel like you have all the time in the world to accomplish your goal.
But before you know it, three months have come and gone!
If you failed to monitor your results during those 90 days, you may have let that time slip by having only accomplished a fraction of the action steps you created in Part 2.
Prevent this by scheduling a weekly recap every week throughout the 90-day cycle.
Each Monday, Friday, or whatever day works for you, review the schedule you created to see if you’re on track. Take stock of which action steps have been accomplished, and which ones you have yet to do. Review the numbers you attached to your goals… including dates, number of sales, # of opt-ins, etc.
If you find yourself getting off track, it’s time to…
Readjust Your Action Steps
Don’t worry if you have to make changes to your plan midstream. Adjustments are to be expected.
Someone who has promised to help you may suddenly no longer be available. An assistant who was doing great work might have gotten behind this week, leaving you behind in general.
The most important thing is to NOT get overwhelmed or discouraged. Instead, you want to stay on top of any changes that take place and readjust your timeline so your 90-day plan remains realistic and achievable.
By doing weekly check-ins, adjusting your action steps, and being honest with yourself about what is working and what is not, you’ll be able to stay on track and meet your 90-day goal no matter what happens over the course of three months.
Celebrate Your Wins
It’s easy to be so focused on what still needs to be done, that you forget to celebrate all of the action steps you’ve completed thus far.
Taking notice of what you have accomplished, no matter how small, will keep you focused and motivated to move forward.
Don’t keep your victories to yourself! Share them with a colleague, your team, your spouse – anyone who will appreciate what you’ve accomplished and celebrate with you.
By setting aside time for a weekly recap, adjusting your plan when needed, and celebrating your wins, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your first set of 90-day goals and creating your second 90-day cycle for 2015.
Are you ready to create your best 2015 using 90-day goal-setting cycles? Contact us at Info@SmartSimpleMarketing.com or call 510.601.0470 to to get started.
