Why you should set goals for your business

Have you ever experienced the daunting task of managing your online business? It’s exhilarating when things start to take off, but it can quickly become overwhelming. You may find yourself unprepared for the influx of work and information that comes with success. With documents and tasks scattered across ten different platforms, it’s easy to feel like something important will slip through the cracks.

You’re not alone! Many solopreneurs, entrepreneurs and small business owners feel this way before establishing their processes and procedures. Often, setting up and organizing the back-end of your business is neglected until it becomes necessary.

So, why not prevent overwhelm by taking small steps to get organized? If you’re like me, you may have many ideas floating around in your head about what you want to do. You might say, “This week, I’ll sort that folder. Next week, I’ll create that process.” But when next week arrives, it’s still not done.

Why not?

When you only have a plan in your head, there’s no real commitment to it. Time passes quickly, and before you know it, you haven’t made any progress towards achieving your goal of running a business that runs “smooth as butter.”

So, why not write it down?

When we transfer the plans in our head, to plans on paper, we are committing to it. We also are able to break it into small, achievable chunks that we can keep on top of. This is where SMART goal setting comes into play and is your first step to getting organized.

 

What’s holding you back?

• Fear of failure: Many individuals fear that they will not be able to achieve their goals, which can lead to disappointment and frustration.
• Lack of motivation: Some people lack the motivation to set goals because they do not see the value in doing so.
• Uncertainty: Setting goals requires individuals to make decisions about their future, which can be challenging if they are unsure about what they want to achieve.
• Lack of time: You may feel you just don’t have time to set goals. So you’ll skip that step and just do the work instead.

We all need some encouragement to help us turn our dreams into a reality

Setting goals is essential for personal and professional growth, even though it may be challenging. You can do it! Once you witness everything falling into place, step by step, you will be overjoyed that you took the initiative.

Here is some more motivation on why you should start setting small goals right away:

• Clarity: Setting goals will provide you with clarity about what you want to achieve and how you plan to get there.
• Focus: Goals help you stay focused on your priorities and avoid distractions that may hinder your progress.
• Motivation: This is a BIG one!! As previously stated, jotting down your goals instills a sense of commitment. This alone can serve as a driving force for most individuals to accomplish their objectives. Goals also provide you with a sense of purpose and motivation to work towards achieving your desired outcomes.
• Accountability: Setting goals helps you hold yourself accountable for your actions and progress towards achieving your goals.

Just imagine the immense satisfaction you’ll experience after ticking off an entire list of goals and witnessing your business operate more efficiently than ever before!

Why Goal Setting Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

Goal setting is an essential part of achieving success in any area of life. However, many people find the process of setting and achieving goals to be complicated and overwhelming (which is only going to contribute to the overwhelm, not help it, right?).

The good news is that goal setting doesn’t have to be complicated. By following a few simple steps, anyone can set and achieve their goals.

(To help you with the below steps, I’ve put together a simple Goal Setting Worksheet that you can download here for FREE. Go check it out!)

• Firstly, it’s important to start with a clear vision of what you want to achieve. This means taking the time to think about your long-term goals and breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps. It’s also important to make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
• Secondly, it’s important to create a plan of action for achieving your goals. This means identifying the resources you need, such as time, money, and support, and developing a timeline that is reasonable, and achievable, for completing each step of your plan.

• Finally, it’s important to stay motivated and focused on your goals. This means celebrating your successes along the way, staying positive, and seeking out support from others when you need it.

Let’s Look at an Example

Here is an example of a 3 month long overall goal to “Establish a filing system”. It shows how you can use mini-goals that are specific and achievable, to ensure you hit your target date for your overall goal of establishing a filing system in 3 months.

Here we go…..

Goal 1 – “Establish a filing system” Target Date = July 31st

Break it down and make it achievable by these steps:

• Action 1 – Research and decide on a system for organizing important documents, such as contracts, receipts, and invoices. Completed Date: May 15th
  • Week One = Research different options
  • Week Two = Document final decision
• Action 2 – Implement the system. Use this time to create folders & spreadsheets in g-Suite, or setup a new bookkeeping software like InvoiceNinja or QuickBooks Online. Completed Date = June 30th
  • Week Three = Create Google Drive structure
  • Week Four = Color code folders
  • Week Five = Create standard operating procedure on how to file docs and what each color is used for (check out my FREE template here to get you started)
  • Weeks Six, Seven & Eight = Move existing files to correct folders
• Action 3 – Schedule regular maintenance: Set aside time each week to complete the setup and organize the workspace. Completed Date = July 31st
  • Weeks Nine & Ten = Add any additional folders needed & color code them. Update SOP if needed
  • Weeks Eleven & Twelve = Delete any duplicate, or unused, files to clean up workspace

Now it’s time to celebrate! You successfully established a filing system in just three months while managing day-to-day business activities.

It’s important to celebrate your successes. And reflect on how far you’ve come in your road to organization and efficiency in your business. This will help to motivate you to keep on going!

While trying to run a successful online business may seem intimidating, by using small goals to achieve a structured and efficiently running business, you will find satisfaction in making your dreams come true. By overcoming the fear of failure, finding motivation, and gaining clarity, you can set achievable goals that will help you succeed in life and business.