Goals And Objectives

Most of us have at one time or another made a list of our wants and desires, or dreams and aspirations. It is a fun activity that allows us to use our imagination.

Despite the fact that we all have dreams, many of us are caught in a reality that is totally out of touch with our dreams and our true nature.

By setting goals and objectives we establish purpose. We put our current reality on hold and determine how we would like our future reality to be like. In many ways it can be an uplifting experience that puts us in contact with our true self.

Not having goals and objectives is the same as accepting employment with a company not knowing how much money you need to earn and not knowing what your salary is going to be. It does not make sense.

From the above example it is clear that dreams or aspirations should not be confused with setting goals and objectives. However, having a dream or a desire is often the first step in setting goals and objectives.

By setting external goals and objectives you focus on the outside world, the world outside of your personal environment. Trying to influence or change your business environment is a good example of an external goal.

"The importance of goals and objectives, correctly formulated and applied, as a business tool is very often underestimated"

The main reason why goals and objectives often fail is simply because we don't follow the right process in setting them. Following the right process is important.

Writing Goals and Objectives

i) Set realistic goals

Wanting a drive a new Ferrari after your 1st month in business is not realistic. Set goals that are achievable. Unrealistic goals will only de-motivate you when they are not fulfilled.

This may sound contrary to the above point of not setting unrealistic goals but it is not. The point is to have goals that are achievable or should be achievable, BUT through hard work.

If you are currently earning $ 3,000 per month you may have a goal of earning $ 5,000 per month. It is realistic. However, if you are currently earning $ 3,000 per month don’t undersell yourself by setting a low goal of only earning $ 3,100 per month…

Many people make the mistake of having great goals but not setting a time limit for themselves to achieve their goals. They say things like: “One day I want to buy a new car…” or “One day I want to go on holiday to Paris”.

Most of these people end up never realizing their goals. Without a time frame there is no sense of urgency and without a sense of urgency nothing happens.

Try to be as specific as possible when setting goals. Don’t just say: “I want my own house”. Rather say: “I want to buy my own house for $ 250,000. It must have 3 bedrooms, a study and a swimming pool for the kids”.

Tell your subconscious exactly what you are looking for. The more specific you are the greater your chance to succeed.

I recommend that you state your goals as if you have already achieved them. To go back to the example in point (iv), say: “I have a great looking house with 3 bedrooms, a study and swimming pool that I bought for $ 250,000”.

I am not a psychologist or expert in positive thinking but by stating your goals as if you have already achieved them you are in fact re-programming yourself for success.

Most people are able of achieving great things in life if they would only believe in themselves. Once again, I am not a psychologist or expert in positive thinking but fact of the matter is that our family, friends and society often limit our personal growth without even realizing it.

A mother may say to her 13 year old boy: “I guess you did not do well in your test because you are not really the intellectual type…” instead of saying “You probably did not do well in your test only because you did not study for it. A bright young lad like you can succeed in anything he wants to accomplish…”. Get the point.

Do the same exercise I discussed in point (v) and again state your goals as if you have already achieved them. If you are a shy lady that hates meeting other people your goal can be “I am a confident and interesting person. I love meeting new people and people love being around me…”

It is important to write down all of your goals and objectives and to repeat them regularly, at least once a day. By repeating your goals and objectives your subconscious mind starts believing that they are possible. You need a positive attitude to succeed.

Remember that your goals and objectives are not cast in stone. Review and change them whenever necessary. If you have a goal of buying a new BMW and later decide you would rather buy a new Mercedes then change your goal!

The real value of setting goals and objectives becomes clear if we use it as a tool to determine if:

Only once you are clear on what your goals and objectives are can you go to the next step, namely formulating a strategy or plan of action on how you are going to realize your goals and objectives.

To conclude, make very sure to give your goals and objectives sufficient consideration and include it in your small business plan. It is a very necessary ingredient to becoming a successful money maker.

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Setting Goals and Objectives

Writing Goals and Objectives