Have you accomplished the last goal you set for yourself? 

It’s OK if you answered no. Almost all goals go unaccomplished. Why is that? We fall into the trap of tackling goals at a sprint. At first, we get really excited. We work really hard. We want to get it done, so we set unrealistic expectations and work loads. As time goes on we lose that momentum and eventually give up. 

What if instead when you set a goal, you stuck with it until you accomplished it? And you kept doing that for every goal you set. Can you imagine how much your business could grow if you achieve every goal?  

You can do it! You just have to figure out why you aren’t sticking to yours.

Intention 

Why do you want to accomplish this goal? There is a wrong answer. More money, power, or prestige aren't sustainable motivators.

That's because there’s a difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. 

• Intrinsic motivators-  Internal motivators, driven by passion, altruism or a sense of greater purpose. 
• Extrinsic motivator - External motivators that drive the individual from outside their self, typically something physical or of monetary value 

Extrinsic motivators reach a plateau of influence. It’s proven at a certain point no matter how much you increase an extrinsic motivator's value the effort you’re willing to put in will stay the same.

Intrinsic motivators will sustain you longer. It helps raise the stakes if you don't accomplish the goal, and provides you with increased motivation. When you complete it, it makes a bigger impact on your life. 

Examples: 

Extrinsic: I want more clients, because I want to make more money. →  Intrinsic: I want more clients because I feel like I can help them and make a positive impact on my community.

Not convinced?

Think about the last time someone very close to you asked you to do them a favor. You probably did it, maybe even went out of your way to complete it, because you care about them. Now think about a stranger asking you the same favor, but offering you $5 to complete the task. Even with the money incentive you may feel less inclined to take time out of your day, because you don’t know them.

Think about your intention before starting to tackle any goal.  

Planning

When you set a goal, when do you plan to work towards it? 

Many people think the maintenance of their business from daily maintenance, assisting customers, or answering a team member’s question takes top priority. Goals aren’t afterhours projects or weekend hobbies. These are investments to get your business to the next level.  If you want to accomplish a goal, you’ll have to make time for it. 

A good rule of thumb is  incorporating it into your schedule. Start by categorizing your work: personal (human) maintenance, goal work, team management, daily operations etc.  Categorizing everything. Write it out.  Color-code it or put it in a chart. Give yourself a chance to visualize a typical day. Where is the bulk of your time being spent? Gradually adjust those hours to make space for working towards your goal. Hint:  aim at working towards your goals every day! 

What’s the right balance? This balance varies for every business, but the trick is to be as specific as possible-don’t forget you’re a human, too! You’ll need to factor in your social as well as physical needs to make the most accurate plan. 

All-or-Nothing Approach

Being finished is better than being perfect. Repeat that! Too many business leaders walk away from a goal because in their mind it wasn’t “perfect.” But here’s a well-known (but not talked about) industry secret: nothing will ever be perfect. Even if you had more resources, a bigger team, infinite time and so on, nothing will ever be perfect. Stop sabotaging your progress and accept that finished is the desired result! 

Don’t be afraid to re-access and redo. Once you complete a goal, it doesn’t mean it’s over. You can return to these goals and revisit it or build on it. The most important thing is that you’re able to stick to your deadlines and complete something. It doesn’t have to be your original goal (and a lot of times it won’t be!) 

Accept that a goal's end result will change due to circumstances outside your control.  Sometimes the end result you pictured won't be possible, but you can still achieve something that will benefit your business. Be flexible! Re-access when needed and be realistic with your expectations and ability. 

Remember: No matter what completing something before moving on will give you a solid foundation. Having half-finished things won’t allow you to move forward and make real progress. Always finish what you start.

Are you ready to make a real commitment to your goals?

Achieving your biggest goals is possible. Our team is available to discuss in greater detail how to design and implement a plan for your unique goals and aspirations. In a 1 hour Break-Through Session we will unlock your core goal and build a success strategy around it. 

Take the first step, right now.