Set and Accomplish Your Goals: 5 Easy Steps

In business and in life, we all need goals if we want to be any better off than we are right now. There are a million different methods for setting and accomplishing goals, which is great, as not every method works for everyone. The following five step process is easy to implement and will help many get from here to there whatever your goals may be.

1. Get some clarity
To be effective, goals must be clear, concise, specific, and measurable. Be very clear on what you want to accomplish, the date by which you will complete the goal, and how you’ll know you’ve accomplished it. It isn’t enough to say, “I want to have the ‘go-to’ blog about do-it-yourself web deisgn.” How will you know you’ve accomplished that goal? More importantly, what does it really mean to have the ‘go-to blog?’ A more effective goal would be, “By May 1, 2010, my blog will be first in the Google search results for the term ‘DIY web design.’” Of course it’s also important that your specific goal is realistic. If you’ve just started a blog on Internet marketing and want it to be 1st in the search results within 30 days, you might need to reassess. The key is to have a crystal clear picture of what you want and by when you want it. Put that down on paper, then go to step 2.

2. Break it down
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! For every major goal, there are almost always smaller goals that must be met first. For example, you’ve got to get to 10,000 RSS subscribers before you hit 40,000. If your goal is to bank $50,000 by October 1st, figure out when it will be realistic to have reached $40,000, $25,000, and $10,000. Set those dates and shoot for each one, with the larger goal always in your mind, but with the “sub-goal” as your short range target and primary focus, until it’s hit - then celebrate, and move to the next one. This technique helps to keep you from being overwhelmed with huge goals. If your goal is $1 million in sales in three years, and the most you’ve made to date is $800, there will be a part of your mind saying, “A million dollars is so much money. How will I ever do that?” Breaking your huge goal into smaller goals helps your mind accept the possibilities, and it will help you stay on track too.

3. Cross the bridges - before you get to them
No matter what goal you set for yourself or your business, there are bound to be challenges and obstacles along the way. If not, your goal isn’t big enough. While you can’t plan for every possible contingency, you can probably foresee the most likely complications that might prevent or at least slow your progress. Working through the “what-ifs” now will make them much easier to overcome when they actually do occur. Let’s say you write a blog on extreme mountain-biking, and you have a goal to reach 20,000 subscribers by August of this year. You’ve been injured before, and know that it’s not uncommon for those in your sport to be knocked out of commission every now and then. If you want to reach your goal, you’ve got to post relevant, interesting articles often, so what happens if you break both wrists and aren’t able to type for weeks or months? Having considered and planned for that possibility, you have a reserve of several articles on the ready. Because you want your posts to be timely, you also decide to begin right now forming relationships with other bloggers in your arena and asking them to occasionally guest blog. Now, if you do need to be away, you won’t be panicking about losing readers while you’re recovering from your injuries.

4. Aaaand… Action!
It’s been said that a goal without a plan is just a dream. In breaking down your goal and planning for contingencies, you have formed a plan that will carry you from where you are to where you want to be. Now, all that’s left is taking the necessary actions to get you to your goal. For this, it might be helpful to take step 2, and break your goals down even further. Ask yourself, “What actions do I need to take each day that will get me closer to my goal?” Taking action daily toward accomplishing your goals will keep you focused on the goal as well as on those smaller goals that will get you to the big one. Don’t let a day pass where you don’t take some step, no matter how small, toward your objective.

5. Assess as you progress
As you move toward your goals, it is important to check to see if you’re on the right track. If you were traveling from Los Angeles to New York by car, you wouldn’t consider taking the trip without a map. In goal achievement, your plan is your map. But you don’t just look at your map before leaving Los Angeles and then put it away. You must check it periodically to make sure you’re still headed in the right direction. It’s just as important to assess your progress toward your goals. This can be accomplished a number of ways. One way that works well for many is with a wall calendar. If your goal is based on a number (subscribers, money earned, search ranking, etc.) write where you are each day on your calendar. This will go a long way to helping you stay focused and on track. You might also notice trends that you can manage to, or a need to adjust either your goal or your methods of reaching it. And if you find you’re lost, don’t be afraid to ask for directions!

As Brian Tracy puts it, “Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.” Whether you use this process or something else, the important thing is that you set goals for yourself and for your business. Share your thoughts in the comments. Which methods do you use to set or track your goals?

Avoid Planning Paralysis with the One-Page Business Plan

What’s the first thing most everyone says you need to do if you’re going to start a business? Write a business plan. But what if you’ve never written a business plan? Or what if you have, and the plan for your last business idea took you three months to write – and you haven’t even looked at it since you wrote it?

Depending on what you read, you might think you need to come up with 30-50 pages of meticulously thought-out, detailed material, including comprehensive financial projections, market studies, contingency plans, and more. So it’s no surprise that the very idea of having to write a formal business plan has kept some would-be entrepreneurs from taking the leap into business ownership altogether.

Of course you do have a lot of options for help if you buy into the conventional wisdom that a formal business plan is an absolute necessity. For starters, there are several hundred books on the subject, ranging from the “For Dummies” version for about fifteen bucks, to Bankable Business Plans for Entrepreneurial Ventures for $95.00 ($52.78 a pound!). Or you can download some slick software, like Palo Alto Software’s Business Plan Pro for $100-$200. If you want to go all out, you also have the option of hiring a firm like Portland Oregon’s MasterPlans to create a plan for you, for an average of $1,500-$4,000.

Let’s be clear: if you’re in need of start up financing, you will need a more formal business plan, and it might even be worth shelling out hundreds or even thousands of dollars and spending plenty of time to create one. Even then though, some bankers will tell you less is more, at least initially. When it’s time for your proposed loan to go to committee – or whoever the decision makers are – they want to see everything. But when you first present the idea to your financier, they’ll probably just want enough to help them decide whether it’s worth taking it to the next step.

If you don’t need major financing to get your business going, even if you might need it down the road, and if you’re dreading the idea of creating a formal business plan, take heart. A study undertaken a few years ago by Babson College has some good news for you. The study, entitled Pre-startup Formal Business Plans and Post-startup Performance, looked at 116 businesses started over an eighteen year period, from 1985 to 2003. Here’s what they found:

The analysis revealed that there was no difference between the performance of new businesses launched with or without written business plans. The findings suggest that unless a would-be entrepreneur needs to raise substantial startup capital from institutional investors or business angels, there is no compelling reason to write a detailed business plan before opening a new business.

Does that mean planning is unimportant? No, it does not. It means you can actually start planning to run your business… planning to do business, rather than planning to plan to do business. It has been said that a goal with out a plan is just a wish. We definitely advocate putting together a written plan. But for most businesses, that can be as little as a single page.

Welcome to the world of the one-page business plan! We believe your plan should have the following elements, all of which should be able to fit on one page:

Vision – Your vision talks about what you’re building. Whether it’s to dominate your market or simply be the best at what you do, this one to three sentence statement tells your company’s future.

Mission – While your vision tells the end result of your efforts, your mission statement talks about why your company exists. It talks, in a general sense, about how you will accomplish your vision.

Objectives – This section can simply be a list of bullet points stating your business goals. These items might be, “Generate $X in revenue this year,” or “Hire two employees by the third quarter.” Don’t worry about specifics in this section; just list end results.

Strategies – Your strategies tell how you’ll meet your objectives. Without going into great detail, list bullet points, such as, “Build a strategic alliance with Chamber of Commerce and other service organizations to increase local visibility,” or “Maximize gross profit by utilizing co-op advertising with select vendors.”

Action Plans – You’ll still use bullet points here and won’t be overly descriptive, but these list items will have dates tied to them and offer more specifics than your strategies. Examples are, “Move to Greenway Business Park office – May 1,” and “Negotiate bulk rate pricing with XYZ Supply beginning March 15^th.”

This one-page plan, like any good business plan, is a fluid document and will change as your business changes. If you do go for financing at some point, this plan will provide a starting outline for a more formal plan. And even then you don’t have to fret too much. (Check out GrowThink’s innovative Ultimate Business Plan Template software for an easy-to-use, effective way to create a professional business plan to take to any financial backer.)

Unlike the kind of plan you put together for financial institutions, the one page business plan is light, practical, and easy to refer to. You might even consider keeping it posted on the wall above your desk to remind you where you’re headed and how you’re going to get there!

Becoming An Internet Entrepreneur; Your Dream, My Reality.

A lot of people think that you need some significant capital investment in order to start something great. This could not be further from the truth. Richard Branson & Robert Herjavec are two prime examples of entrepreneurs who started with nothing and become giant successes. Check out http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/self-made-magazine/ for Richard’s story and http://www.ukpreneur.co.uk/1636/robert-herjavec-rags-to-riches/ for Robert’s.

Two things that I have learned from them and other successful entrepreneurs is that determination and consistency is key. You can have a great idea, but if you do not jump in with both feet you will be set up for disappointment. If you are starting a blog site, work at it daily, network, write posts, get other people to write posts, focus on providing quality content & keep doing these things even if you do not see significant results right away. Stay consistent! I have made mistakes in the past where I tried an idea and only worked at it part time. I became frustrated that nothing was coming out of it so I gave up. I have learned my lesson and now I do not start something unless I give it 110%.

Find your niche and be determined to make something out of nothing. It is about your mindset and your drive. If you are not passionate about your niche, you will not be motivated to stay consistent and your dream of becoming an entrepreneur will slowly become just that, a dream.

There are so many resources out there to aid in your success. Use them. Join forums, visit your local chambers of commerce, read blogs and simply become active in the industry that you are in (or want to be in). It is amazing where some ideas can come from. By being active rather than passive you will open more doors and allow your idea to come to you, rather than the other way around.

For me, it was about figuring out what I loved to do and how I can do what I love everyday for a living. So, I love to sell. It may not be everyone’s passion, but I truly enjoy the hunt and the close. Marrying my love for selling and my passion for anything Internet related, it made sense for me to become a website broker. I learn about different online industries and speak with people from all over the world on a daily basis. It’s fun, it pays the bills, and it allows me to be my own boss (something everyone who wants be an entrepreneur dreams about). I always enjoy speaking with like-minded individuals, so feel free to call me if you would like to pick my brain.

Until next time…

This is a Guest Post by Michael Koral, a 26-year old Canadian entrepreneur with experience in a variety of industries, including copier sales, advertising and custom web design sales for MenuPalace.com, and web development, SEO, & Website brokerage at wesellyoursite.com.

Marketing Outside the Box

Want to create a buzz and get people talking about what you’re doing? How about doing the opposite of what people expect. Many people call this thinking outside of the box and this is where your right brain can definitely come into play. This is where you should start saying “why not” instead of “don’t go there.”

If you feel that your marketing message is constrained by certain parameters, ask yourself whether those parameters are real or imaginary. How far could you push the envelope without overstepping, how creative can you be without it backfiring? Whenever you see a viral video or hear of a highly successful “off the cuff” marketing initiative, try and take time to understand how the initiators formed their thoughts. Put yourself in the role of the most highly paid executive on Madison Avenue, famous for constantly thinking outside of the box and see how you could enhance your position.

If you are in a niche not known for its jocularity, inject some! Maybe you’re an accounting service provider – create a video about something funny and lighthearted around tax time.

Surprise all your clients and prospects by giving something of great value to them at no charge and also on a regular basis. Establishing yourself as the experts is, as we know, a smart move in the world of Internet marketing. Look into your crystal ball and see where the next growth area may be in your particular niche and then go out of your way to create a meaty white paper or newsletter.You will place a resounding stamp on the subject and put yourself ahead of the game.

Remember that not all journalists have their finger on the pulse and many of them have so many other projects going on that they’re more than willing to receive expert opinion on any matter or valuable insight that you could provide them. Use the power of public relations to your advantage. Once again, anticipate questions that arise and how you could link your niche to any hot, trending, newsworthy activities or events.

While you are feeling in a global and giving mode, consider hosting your own virtual tradeshow. This idea is emerging, just as the power of the Internet is increasing exponentially. As exhibition or attendance at any tradeshow can be costly and time-consuming, attendance at the virtual tradeshow can take place from the security of the office or a comfortable home. If you set up and host a virtual tradeshow within your industry, you can achieve a considerable brand recognition and some additional earnings potential as well.

If you are involved in Internet marketing and the provision of online services, you may well not have considered the gold mine that is literally outside of your door. Bricks and mortar operations can all benefit from online exposure and rather than focusing on marketing your products online all the time, approach some of the more than 50% of off-line businesses that have no web presence whatsoever.

Have you seen any great ‘outside the box’ marketing messages?

Matthew Toren

Be Different and Stand Out

As an entrepreneur, how often have you tried simply tinkering with your price to see if you can gain just a little bit of advantage over your competitors? Truth be told, this is how we all tend to think at first reaction, as the almighty dollar always dictates a biased decision. But of course it does not. In any wildly cluttered marketplace, where price based marketing is prominent and is often shut out by the consumer, the key is differentiation. Don’t try and compete on price alone, but make sure your organization has something very distinctive to offer that others do not.

We are not trying to say that price is irrelevant and you will surely be disappointed if your pricing structure is badly skewed, but there comes a point when the consumer makes a decision based on other factors as well. If you have been able to differentiate your operation sufficiently, then in the ultimate scenario, price becomes irrelevant.

Are you aware of who your competitors are? Many an entrepreneur is not really able to answer that question, but this form of intelligence is not difficult to gather and you should always be aware of how others are seeking to reach your targets. If you do not know the “modus operandi” of your competitors, you will be badly placed should they choose to launch an initiative to try and steal your revenues. Setting yourself apart from the competition will invariably require you to reassess how you handle all your business processes, how you interact with your clients, and how you treat your relationships. You must have a hands on and conversational relationship with your clients and ensure that you are communicating what sets you apart.

If you just focus on price, how much of a difference are you likely to make? You could pare your expenses to the bone and imagine that you could make up what you’re losing though additional clientèle. Would your existing clients take a dim view of this? There is a danger that you could project yourself as budget quality, driving down the perceived value of your services. In reality, the pure profit involved when you tinker around with marginal price differences could be more than accounted for by a concerted effort to differentiate your service.

Overdeliver at everything that you do, to the point when people wonder just how you can manage to do this and still maintain a profit. This kind of creativity does not have to be the domain of those late-night infomercials on television, which promise you more and more in terms of savings and add-ons, rapidly creating the hook. Take a good look at what your competitors are doing and do it better, or provide distinct value when they are not.

How do you differentiate?

Adam Toren

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