One of the best things about a new year is the prospect of a fresh start. Traditionally, the most popular resolutions are health-related ones, such as “start exercising” and “stop smoking.” And “lose weight,” of course.
Just as sticking to a diet can be tough, so can sticking to business goals. If you’re an entrepreneur (or want to become one), you may be looking at January as an opportunity to make changes or take other action. How can you stay just as motivated in six months – or maybe even in six days — as you are now?
Over the years, I’ve found that it helps to be selective about New Year’s goals and to think about how to implement them. If you’d like to try this approach, here are a few tips:
• Go for quality, not for quantity. Better to have three or four solid goals than a long wish list you’ll never get through.
• Push yourself without being ridiculous. Choose goals that excite you and make you stretch — but also are within reach.
• Be specific. Example: Rather than “Have a stronger social media presence,” go for something like “Tweet once a day” or “Outreach three new LinkedIn contacts every week.”
• Set dates. A timeline for completing steps towards a goal gives you an action plan.
• Share your goals with others. These “witnesses” can help hold you accountable.
• Tape your goals to your bathroom mirror (or some place else where they will be highly visible). They won’t do you any good if you stick them in a drawer and forget about them.
• Stay flexible. The unexpected may force you to revise, recalibrate or scale back. That’s okay as long as you’re still moving forward.
• Check off completed goals. Each mark will be a visual indicator of your progress – and make you feel good about yourself.
Wishing you all the best for 2013 –
Lynne
Reblogged this on Resort & Luxury Real Estate, Co. and commented:
From, “The Late Blooming Entrepreneur”…..I guess 40 is “late blooming”!
Forty usually seems “late blooming” to a 20-something — but not necessarily for someone who’s 50 or 60. It’s all relative, I guess.
I agree. I just watched an episode from Bloomberg & the guests were saying that more opportunities need to be made for women in their 20′s & 30′s and I could only think, isn’t that the one group of women that have opportunities, limitless, at that. It is the older women, who raised these 20 somethings, that need the opportunities. While we were raising our children, the World boomed in technology & the 50-60-70 somethings have been all but abandoned to make room for our younger generations. I know, I have been bumping in the dark for years, but never able to push through, until now….that my kids are grown. I am 50-okay, 51 as of Christmas, but-I have ideas that have been burning in my mind for years and now I am ready to hit my stride.
As you pursue your next act, I hope this blog’s inspirational stories, resources and ideas are helpful to you. Thank you for reading — and good luck.
Great post Lynne. I too believe it is good to have just a couple goals to reach and attain them than many and fall short. Happy New Year to you!
Thank you, Tina. I really enjoy reading your blog. Happy New Year to you as well!
Reblogged this on mcbenamek and commented:
INTERESTING!
Thanks for the reblog!
Reblogged this on Agrogap research organization(A.G.R.O).
Thank you.
Reblogged this on uthmanx.
Thanks.
Share your goals with others. These “witnesses” can help hold you accountable. – this is the best tip that works for me! Will reblog on my official site, http://estorecoachingcom.wordpress.com
Third-party accountability can be a powerful motivator. Thanks for the reblog!
great post
Glad you liked it. Thanks for reading.
Reblogged this on Going Virtual!.
Thanks.
Reblogged this on jamessabio09's Blog.
Much appreciated. Thanks.
Reblogged this on montymarshall's Blog and commented:
Great stuff about starting anything you wish.
Hopefully these tips will help you finish as well! Thanks for the reblog.
Great blog! Even at 26, I can definitely relate and use the great advice. Thanks!
Many fundamentals have value for entrepreneurs of all ages. Thanks for reading.
Reblogged this on Viviankaplan's Blog.
Thank you.
These are good ideas for making goals that work!
When it comes to goal setting, you can’t stop with the “what.” You also have to think about the “how.”
Not quite forty but I figured, why wait 5 years? I thank you for providing these great pieces of wisdom and tips which you most likely discovered the hard way.
Sometimes the best lessons are the ones learned through the School of Hard Knocks! I’m glad they were helpful.
Great, now I will be singing Annie song for the rest of the day. lol Stead of treated we get tricked, stead of kisses we get kicked…It’s a hard knock life
Cotton blankets ‘steada of wool, empty bellies ‘steada of full….I guess entrepreneurship can feel that way, sometimes