|
|  |
| |
|
| | The **The Business Consortium** Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Organization Tuesday: Organizing Your Goals For a New Year | Views: 362 | | Jan 06, 2009 8:47 pm | | Organization Tuesday: Organizing Your Goals For a New Year | # | 
Julie Bestry | | Happy Get
Organized Month! Couldn't we all use some smarter
goal-setting
techniques so we can succeed at our goal-getting?
At the start of a new year, we set often resolutions for our personal
lives and goals for our businesses, but it's striking how many things
appear on our lists repeatedly from year to year. According
to MyGoals.com,
some of the most popular resolutions are losing weight, quitting
smoking, reducing debt, getting organized and finding a better
job. In business, we set goals for increasing revenue, improving efficiency,
extending product lines, etc.
Over the years, we’ve been told to set SMART goals, where the acronym
stands for
• Specific--not
mere "more" or "better", as specificity allows for greater visualization
• Measurable--how
much revenue, how many pounds
• Attainable--goals
set out of reach eventually lead to disappointment
• Realistic--have
your friends, family, employees and clients give you a reality check
• Time
Sensitive—accomplish the goal, or the benchmarks, by when?
Perhaps it’s time to take the next step. First, I'd like to
suggest we make it SMARTY,
with the Y standing for Yours. It does us no good if our
resolutions or goals are selected because they reflect our loved ones'
desires or the latest marketing buzzwords. Set goals which reflect your own
aspirations!
What other goal characteristics that might help us reach
success? How about another S--for Stretch?
Let's face it, when we stick to the “same-old, same-old”, we may meet
expectations (our own, as well as our clients), but don't we want to exceed
expectations? In Annie Hall, Woody Allen said
“Relationships are like sharks. They have to keep moving
forward or they'll die." Let's make sure we keep our business
relationship sharks alive and well—keep stretching!
Next, I submit a K for Knowledge-based.
We need to commit ourselves to goals based on information, research and
strong reasoning. It's great to follow our gut instincts, but
professionalism means we need research to back us up.
Specificity means we've moved beyond the vague--we've pinpointed what
previous businesses have accomplished successfully. To make
our goals measurable, we must base our projections on recorded
successes and failures—our own and others in our industry. To
know if a goal is attainable, surely knowledge of the business
environment is key.
Let’s add an I for Imaginative.
Instead of saying we will lose 12 pounds in six weeks--couldn't we just
as easily, and more entertainingly, say we'll fit into our favorite
outfit by Valentine's Day? It’s the same in business--a
little imagination inspires the soul. Instead of just saying
that we'll increase revenue by $3000 in April, why not state what
business rewards (like attendance at a conference) might be in the
works?
How about another R? Just because we've said our goals should
be realistic doesn't mean they can't be Revolutionary!
We need not foment rebellion, but if something doesn't work, we needn’t
choose between miserable resignation or totally abandonment.
If something in your personal lives, relationships, businesses or
member organizations falls short of where you think they should be, set
a revolutionary goal and make a change. Fire off the “Email
Read 'Round the World” and maybe a statue will be erected in your honor!
Finally, let's add a T for Tantalizing.
Boring-sounding goals don’t inspire action or commitment. If
you can't inspire yourself, how will you motivate your troops (your
kids or your staff) so they can support you? Shouldn’t your
goals make you salivate as if someone just walked by your table with a
chocolate cheesecake? State your goals such that you’re eager
to advance towards them.
So let’s make some goals and be SMARTY SKIRTs in
2009! (With apologies to the guys, but “smarty pants” is SO last century.)
;-)
--
Julie Bestry, Certified Professional Organizer®
Best Results Organizing
"Don't apologize. Organize!"
organize@juliebestry.com
Visit http://www.juliebestry.com
to save time and money, reduce stress and increase your productivityPrivate Reply to Julie Bestry | | |
| |
| |
