Goal Setting that Works


By Mark S.A. Smith

RIGHT NOW is a great time to set goals, and set your motivation. Here is a process that you can use to create goals that make a difference for you.Your goals must have meaning for you. Your odds of failing are greater if you're trying to reach someone else's goals. Use this exercise to define your success for the upcoming months.

Sit back, relax, and imagine yourself one year into the future, looking back on today. What was it that you decided to do that made you so successful? Perhaps it was that you decided to invest a certain amount of money (money success isn't about how much you make, but how much you keep). Perhaps it was that you decided to own a certain car, home, or other luxury. Perhaps it was that you were able to take your dream vacation. What ever it was, define what created your feeling of success and satisfaction.Wasn't that a fun exercise! Write down that success vision and attach a copy to your calendar a year into the future, so that you can go back and check on your of success at year end.Create a step-by-step action plan. Write it down along with your success vision for the year. Break down the plan into smaller pieces that you can accomplish in 15 minutes a day.

Perhaps it means increasing your performance at work by 5 percent by going in 15 minutes earlier. Perhaps it means going to evening classes once a week to gain a new skill. Perhaps it means turning off the TV a half hour earlier so that you can review investment opportunities.While your goals should be a bit of a stretch, make sure that you can accomplish them. There's no sense in setting a goal to win the Boston Marathon if you haven't run a mile since high school. Yet you probably can increase your fitness so that you can run a 5k race this summer.

You must be able to measure your goal. What will you use to gage how you're doing? Perhaps you'll use your savings account as your gage, getting ready for the down payment on that new car.Create interesting ways to track how well you're doing and stay focused on achieving your goals. Will you make a little thermometer and color it in? Will you have a little grid and check off your success? Will you have a little racecar that you move around a track as you stay on track? This may seem goofy, yet you'll discover that this little trick works magic in keeping you motivated.

Build little celebrations into your plan. It could be as simple as a candy bar or as wonderful as a massage or a celebratory lunch at your favorite restaurant. Celebrations keep you motivated to see your success vision become reality. Don't reward yourself until you deserve the reward.© MMVII Mark S.A. Smith. All rights reserved. Reuse encouraged and permission granted when including this copyright notice and contact information. http://www.OCEinc.com

Mark founded Outsource Channel Executives Inc. (OCE, Inc) in 2003 to serve clients who were looking for ways to successfully take their products and services to market. After 22 years of working in and with high-tech sales and marketing channels, Mark identified that channel success depended on building value, driving demand, forming a powerful network, and protecting profits. A recognized business expert, Mark co-authored Guerrilla Negotiating, Guerrilla TeleSelling, and Guerrilla Trade Show Selling.


More Resources

Traits and Skills of Successful Internet Entrepreneurs
There are certain traits and skills that many successful online entrepreneurs have in common. Some mentioned in this article may seem simple, but don't overlook their importance.
An Entrepreneur and a Life To Be Remembered
I was reminded of my own mortality today. I guess you can say I had a near death experience, though the death I experienced was not my own.
Developing A Contract
As a service provider, the most important type of "boundary" you can set as a business owner involves those policies and procedures that govern how you interact with your clients. The more precise you can be about the services you provide, your fee structure, and what you expect from your clients, the smoother your work relationships will be.
Will Your Business Survive Without You?
I had a health scare in December.As it turns out, everything's perfectly okay.
Corporate Espionage in Franchising
Franchising Trade Journals do not do well, because today with all the industry regulations only about 1800 active franchise actually exist in the US. Down sharply over the past five years.
The 9 Key Distinctions of Successful Solo-Entrepreneurs!
SUCCESSFUL Solo-Entrepreneurs approach life and business from a perspective that is new, fresh, and rather unorthodox. The differences are subtle, yet significant.
Entrepreneurial Hate, its out there
Today, I got an email from a lady who hates all business people and entrepreneurs, because they are Greedy, Arrogant and a Host of other atrocities. She was replying to an article I wrote about entrepreneurs and how they bring to the civilization; everything you see, everywhere you go and without us, you would have nothing.
3 Essential Elements of Operating a Successful Business
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to live your dream? A good place to start would be to recognize that there are three elements, and only three elements, that separate success from failure. If you exercise one of the elements, you might just be successful.
Franchises - A Proven Business System
Franchises offer the first time business owner a proven and successful business opportunity. If you are looking to start your own business for the first time, franchises provide you with the greatest opportunity for success.
Are You Ready To Be Your Own Boss?
You have this burning desire you want to be on your own. The temptation is so great that you want to quit your job.
Creativity & Entrepreneurship - Key Questions From My Students
Hello Creative Entrepreneurs!Thought for the day:"It is not easy being an entrepreneur, but it is always rewarding. It takes great discipline, self-motivation, hard work and perseverance to achieve your dream.
What Online Millionaires Tell Me They Are Worried About
I just arrived back from the best seminar I have ever attended in the last 10-years.There were more "Underground" millionaires at Yanik Silver's"Underground" seminar than I've ever had access to at one time ever!Upon arrival, we had to sign Non Disclosure Agreements, andfor very good reason.
Ancient Warrior Secrets For The Modern Entrepreneur
The words you see onscreen trigger subconscious responses. Dark images penetrate your mind.
10 Ways Entrepreneurs Shoot Themselves In The Foot
Entrepreneurs and their businesses have a tendency to ambushthemselves when they aren't looking. This affects how muchrevenue they can generate, how fast their business rises,and even if they survive after the first few years.
Questions For The Entrepreneur To Be
Entrepreneurial e-gnorancePart 1: Questions for the entrepreneur to beIf you are an entrepreneur starting out, or have been around the block for some time but are yet to hit on the jackpot, you might be missing out some of the cornerstones of doing busingg through the new age media, the internet. Ask yourself the following questions and in seeking out answers to the, you may find the magic touch that could propel you to the success that drives you everyday.
The Term Sheet's Role in Raising Venture Capital
Entrepreneurs and companies who are seeking venture capital often negotiate with one or more venture capital firms on a number of important issues. These issues include the amount of capital to be raised, the investment terms, etc.
Walt Disneys Failures Could Inspire Entrepreneurs
You are a struggling entrepreneur and sometimes it feels like you are pushing a 3 ton boulder up a steep hill. Costs keep mounting and you are considering giving up.
Drive Website Traffic Unconventionally, Force Your Children To Do It
If you believe that every little bit helps then keepreading..
Realism vs. Optimism in the Business Plan
The most important function of a business plan is to create interest among investors so that they write a check. In achieving this goal, business plan writers are often challenged by determining the proper level of optimism in their plan.
The Magic of Thinking Small
Hey!Many of you might disagree and I'm prepared for that.Many 'guru's' might say "Mike, you're wrong.

More Entrepreneurialism Information:

Related Articles

Franchise Business and Franchise Businesses
Franchise business is being part of a successfully proven business that has a name or trademark that is well known and profitable. Franchise businesses are strategically tried and marketable with options to expand by offering products and services that appeal to the consumer.
History of Enterprise Car Rentals
So few really understand the drives and motivations of entrepreneurs. Many write about them, some lecture and teach about what they are, how they operate and what they have achieved; yet so few really understand them.
Message to Prospective Franchisees for Franchisors
Many franchise companies fail to send the proper message to their prospective franchisees. This is partly due to the over regulation and intensity of litigation in the industry.
Lets Not Forget About The Little Guy
Every business has to start somewhere. What truly makes this country great is the freedom of enterprenuership that every one of its citizens have.
10 Tips for Would-be Entrepreneurs
Every evening as the sun sets beyond the mangroves that line the shore along the western bank of Lake Myakka, Florida, herds of wild deer and wild black pigs come down to the water's edge to drink and slake their thirst.I have seen them up close and it is a beautiful, peaceful and inspiring sight!Every evening as the sun sets beyond the mangroves that line the shore a horde of hungry alligators wait just below the surface and watch for their prey.
Can You Make Money Without Money?
When I ask why you don't start your own business, I always hear, "I don't have money to start a business."This is a common excuse people give for not starting their own business.
The Ideal Length of Your Business Plan
How long should a business plan be? A business plan needs to be whatever length is required to excite the investor, prove that management truly understands the market, and detail the execution strategy. From surveys of investor needs, Growthink has found that 15 to 25 pages of text is the optimum length in which to accomplish this.
Methods of Generating New Ideas for Entrepreneurs
Summary: Even with a wide variety of sources available, coming up with an idea as the basis for a new venture can still be a difficult problem. The entrepreneur can use several methods to help generate and test new ideas including focus groups, brainstorming and problem inventory analysis.
Create Your Entrepreneur Dream Team
I hear it all the time. "What should I do about .
Differentiation Strategies for Franchise Companies
With the growing number of franchise offerings recently it is difficult for the smallest franchise companies to compete. They generally do not have the advertising budgets to pick and choose which markets the franchise prospects will be calling from.
Focus is the Key to a Successful Startup
The definition of a startup means you have very few resources to employ and little time to get them to do something valuable. The clock is always ticking, and the money (if you even have any) is running out by the day.
Defining a R&D Framework for Entrepreneurship and Innovation on Information Product Generation
IntroductionKnowledge is the key resource that forms the institutional basis of the post-industrial economy and society. It should be empasized that it is institutions of higher education that give tangible expression to this argument by acting as catalysts for knowledge and research-driven economic growth as well as well-being enhancement.
Top Ten Ways to Increase Your Profitability
1) Go back to basics.Take a couple of steps back and address the fundamental facts or principles of your business.
Could a Non-Profit Structure Be Right for Your Business?
If you have a business idea, or an idea for a servicefor your community, there's one decision you must makeearly on: are you going to structure your project as afor-profit business, or as a non-profit corporation?Now, it may be that you already have a clear idea aboutthis. Some business ideas are clearly "for profit".
The Desire For Money, Do You Have Business Sense?
For those of us who grew up with parents who worked for businesses rather than owned them, the world of business can be quite a mystery. Even more so if we've dared to try to start one of our own.
Strategies for Overcoming Obstacles to Discovering Your Gifts
What are the unique gifts that differentiate you from other solo entrepreneurs? The path to discovering your gifts may take a lifetime, but you can use the exploration process to begin to use your gifts NOW! Unfortunately, for many different reasons people get sidetracked or never even get started taking the actions that would help them discover their uniqueness. Here are some suggested strategies to help move forward and stay on the path of discovering your gifts.
Vendor Relations
Communication is the key to vendor relations. In your small business, you will be in need of many products and services.
Work vs Play: Which is the Better Way to Make Big Money?
If you want to make big money, you have to play not to work."What do you mean by that?" You ask.
How Entrepreneurs Make Money Selling Global Brands On and Off-line
Did you know that thousands of companies from all over the world are looking for enthusiastic individuals to represent their products overseas? That person can be you. From Chinese toys to Brazilian bikinis people are making money reselling all kinds of products for a profit.
From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money Selling Info Products
The term "Infopreneur" is a relatively new industry buzz word that is making waves because it opens doors for entrepreneurs to generate new streams of income. Simply put, an infopreneur sells information.