A new year – here come the new goals!

Now that the dust has settled from 2019 and an awesomely chaotic holiday season, many business leaders are sitting pen in hand – looking at 2020 and trying to “plan” for a great year. What goals do I need to set? Where do I see myself this time – next year? What absolutely needs to happen this year to make my business stronger than it is today? Do I really need to cut carbs?

There are a lot (seriously a lot) of good reads on setting proper business goals – but I thought I would share a couple things I do as I set goals for a new year. I am by no means awesome at goals – but I have a goal of doing goals better! Two of my tricks – Time and “The one”.

Time! Years ago, a very wise advisor told me “Money can be found – time cannot. Make sure your plan is realistic around your time available”. So, as I work on goals the all important “T” in being a SMART goal needs to really fit. Not only “when it needs to be done” – but as a business leader honestly “face in the mirror” answer:

What can I realistically do? Can I realistically tackle this? Is this aspirational?

This (Time challenge) means different things to different people – resource and team aside, you only have so much time in any given day. Yes, we are all super heroes. Yes, we all are masters of all things….. Yes, we can all hang big words out like prioritization and delegation and empowerment and blah and blah and blah, but honestly – things take time; no matter how or what or when. So that goal, that must have – can you realistically accomplish it in the time allotted? HOWEVER – push yourself. This doesn’t mean or give you the excuse to drag it out. If it is that most important thing, all those big words I poked fun at above most certainly apply! Look the mirror. Ask yourself. Do I have the time necessary to make this goal a reality?

“The one”. Do yourself a favor and read “Traction” by Gino Wickman. Seriously one of the better if not the best reads out there. There are so many “things” that are important. So many priorities and must haves. Enter the term “conflicting priorities”. You can pick just 3 goals for the next 90-days, that is it. What would they be? There is A LOT more to this concept – and I am not trying to spell it all out here; what I am highlighting is the need for disciplined focus on “The one” (or the 3) things you deem as an absolute must. By doing this, you give yourself the necessary method to forgo or table any other shiny object that will surely enter your line of sight. It is EXTREMELY hard. Others will not help as their shiny objects will also become topics of enticement. Just say no! That one thing done and ruthlessly executed upon is probably way better than 9 things half-cooked.

Goals are a necessary must. “Just winging it” really does not work. It may feel like it does, but it is not how you build a sustainable anything. I keep time and focus on “the one” as key tests for my goals. Maybe you have your own “tests”. But whatever tests you have, make sure you are using them as you set the musts for the continued success of your venture.

Retail on!

Jesse