Goal Setting…It’s What It’s ALL About…

As many of you know and as I mentioned in some posts a few weeks ago, it is once again time for yearly strategic planning.  Where and on what will you focus your energy for the next 12 months?

The first part of this process is goal setting…personal and professional.  Personal goals can include goals for your family, your health, your personal finances…anything that goes toward the quality of life you are trying to build on the personal side.

Your business goals include anything involved with your business…revenues, new clients, number of meetings per week, technology & service model improvements, etc.

In their book, The One Thing…You Need To Do by “D” Shannon and David Drucker (click here for the amazon.com link – http://www.amazon.com/One-Thing-You-Need-Do/dp/0976497409/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255388671&sr=1-2) Paul & Leslie Strebel (certified as “E-Myth Consultants”) discuss the 10 most important principles in goal setting.  Here they are:

1.  Your most important goals MUST be yours;

2.  Your goals must be meaningful;

3.  Your goals must be specific and measurable;

4.  Your goals must be flexible;

5.  Your goals must be challenging & exciting;

6.  Your goals must be in alignment with your values

7.  Your goals must be well-balanced;

8.  Your goals must be realistic;

9.  Your goals must include contribution;

10.  Your goals need to be supported.

I think these are excellent guidelines articulated in a well-thought out, meaningful manner.

Not having goals (which usually involve change or evolution) is simply doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  Know what word is that the definition for? Insanity.  Think about it!

As a reminder, I have several worksheets on my website (www.backofficeadvisor.com) for getting you started in strategic planning.  These are available for free download.

Good luck and take care, Ginny