As a working mom and multi-passionate entrepreneur, I am always striving for achievements while working towards a goal. Goals are a way for us to maximize our potential and go for the gold and not for the low hanging fruit. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t regularly set goals and intentions for me and my business, and frankly, I don’t want to find out.
A lot of business savvy women set goals, but don’t have a plan or follow-through action steps to make them happen. This can result in not getting the job done, and can be a blow to what we want to achieve. Goal-setting is an art, and I have a few tools that can help you get over your humps and hurdles while striving towards greatness.
Here are five things you can do to get the most out of your objectives while setting your goals:
Make working on your goals a daily habit
The more you work on your goals, the more they become a part of you and your day. I make it a point to do something that relates to my goals during each weekday. This could be as simple as writing the goal down in my notebook to compiling a to-do list for the goal so I can make it happen. Nothing is too big or small, just make sure to “touch” your goal(s) consistently.
Accountability Partner
No one man or woman is an island, and when it comes to our goals, it is okay to get some help. Working with a friend or colleague as an accountability partner can help you crush your goals and charge through the finish line. They can help give you encouragement when you don’t want to work on them, or cheer you on when you do something that causes you to be one step closer.
Reward yourself
When I set a huge goal, I will reward myself when I get it done. The reward can be as small as a massage at the spa, or as huge as a trip to a beach. Whatever the case, when I attach a reward to the goal, it assists me in chugging right along.
Begin with the end in mind
If you are familiar with Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, you know that “begin with the end in mind” is habit #2. When you begin a goal, you can’t just focus on the work you have to do to achieve the goal. You must look at the bigger picture. The end result of the goal is what you desire, so when working towards the finish line, don’t think of the blood, sweat, and tears you may be experiencing. Think of the end result and how it will feel when you reach that goal.
Small steps equal big wins
When it comes to goals, many of us women think that you have something major happen in order for it to be considered an achievement. Wrong. Small wins lead to even bigger wins, so never downplay a positive objective or benchmark that you surpassed. Pat yourself on the back because you deserve it, and it brings you one step closer to your overall plan.
Setting goals and working towards them won’t always be pleasant, but the finished product will always be worth it. Here’s to all of us being consistent and intentional when it comes to planning our mission.
I’ve created a free Goal-setting Planner that you can download, save, and/or print out to add to your success toolbox. Download yours HERE.
