It never fails to amaze me when I hear sales reps say they CAN’T set goals because everything changes so quickly, or they don’t always achieve their goals so why set them, or they keep an idea in their head and don’t need to do anything formally.
This always leads to further investigation – by me – unbeknownst to them where I’m really going. Inevitability, I discover the people with any of these goal setting excuses aren’t where they want to be professionally or personally.
So is there something to this writing down and setting goals?
Diane Scharf Hunt says, “Goals are dreams with deadlines.”
Who couldn’t use a little dreaming today?
So dream big and then put the dreamy big goal paper. In fact, write 5 big dreamy goals to come true in 60 days!
I’m going to disappoint you now. The dreamy big goal may not happen just because you put it to paper.
There are a few more manageable items to take care of to achieve the big dreamy goal.
Let’s create a Big Dream Goal Planner to help.
On the paper with your goal make 5 columns on the page.
- In the left column is where you write the 5 dreamy goals you want to happen in the next 60 days. These are outcomes such as: “Make one new sales appoint each workday.” or Close $xxxx in business each week.” “Learn to play the piano.” These will be your goal statements. Caution: Review if you wrote the Dreamy Goal for specific and measurable outcomes. For example, if your goal is “More time with my family.” you can be more specific with what that looks and feels like. Does it mean a certain amount of time each night or weekend? Certain activities completed together? Is it, “I will eat dinner with my family 3 times each week.” instead of “Mor time with my family.” This allows you to know whether you have achieved the goal or not.
- Look at each statement and identify the actions needed to take to get there. In the second column write 2-3 actions. (i.e. I will end my workday at 5:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I will block out my calendar from 5:00 on so no one can make an appointment with me.)
- In the third column, write a specific time/date when you will take the action. Is it each day? Week? How often? A date is another checkpoint on the road to success.
- Next, identify your reward for completing those actions or the goal. There are two kinds of rewards. One is the benefit of completing the action… Will you sleep better? Will there be self-satisfaction? Will the relationship with your family be more rewarding and fulfilling? The second reward is a prize or present for you for achieving the goal! Are you going to treat yourself to a day on the golf course, a new belt, a dinner out with your spouse? Yes, you are entitled to a present type of reward! Write this in the fourth column.
- In the fifth column, write the name of a stakeholder to join you in knowing about this goal or outcome. A stakeholder is someone who will care about this outcome for you. It may be a manager, a spouse, a colleague, a friend. You may have different stakeholders for each goal. Once you’ve named your stakeholder, tell them your goal and allow them to hold you accountable – without any repercussions!
Finished? Congratulations! You now have 5 Big Dreamy Goals and a plan of action for the next 60 days! Now the fun begins.
Good luck! Comment below with some of your goals and keep us informed of your progress.
