LeslieBarber
Level 6

Defining Your Main Goal

 

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One of our favorite things about being part of a community of people who work for themselves is fundamentally, we just kind of get each other. Even though we're at different stages of creating, building and growing a business, it's safe to say we all started out at roughly the same place -- with a great idea and a boatload of passion, determination and perseverance.

 

Something else we all share? We know (or have come to realize!) the critical importance of having well-defined professional goals. When you have a clear, and clearly articulated, three-year vision of success, we say, congratulations. You've nailed your Main Goal.

 

Like so many things in business (and in life), the more sharply focused your Main Goal, the more likely you are to achieve it. With this guiding principle in mind, let's dive in to help you create your Main Goal. (After that, we'll share some of the awesome insights we've learned from having a  Morning Ritual and a Target Number, too.)

 

Let's get started!

 

Your Main Goal is a blueprint for your business

 

The most successful people we know have all invested the necessary time, effort and, sometimes, soul-searching, to get absolutely clear about themselves and what they want from their business.  A Main Goal is to your business what a blueprint is to construction. You wouldn't dream of breaking ground without one. 

 

A successful Main Goal is:

 

1.Written down, clearly and specifically. You don't have a Main Goal if it isn't on paper (okay, or a screen).

2. Something that you really want. You have permission to be selfish in this exercise. As they say on planes, "put on your oxygen mask first."

3. Measurable. Stretch beyond "I want to make more money" to "I want to earn $50,000 per year in after tax income by (specific date)."

4. Believable, with a reasonable probability of success. Trying to achieve the impossible is simply demoralizing. 

5. Consistent with your other goals. Relaxing on the beach and tripling your income in six months cancel each other out. 

 

Let's get detailed 

 

The more details you include in your Main Goal, the better. 

A few kick-off questions to get you started:

 

1. What are your three most important goals in your business right now?

2. What are your three most important financial goals right now?

3. What are your three most important family or relationship goals right now?

4. What are your three most important health and fitness goals right now?

 

Now that your juices are flowing, ask yourself the big question. What one great thing would you dare to dream if you could not fail? 

  

Identify your major worries

 

Thinking about your goals is one thing. Figuring out what might stop you from reaching them is just as important. As you consider what potential pitfalls you might face along the way, you might ask yourself questions like:

 

  • Is there a genuine need for your product or service?
  • Is your prospective market already saturated?
  • Is the biggest obstacle to success your own lack of confidence or commitment? 

 

Once you have identified, say, three major worries, ask yourself:

 

1. What is the ideal solution to each problem?

2. How could I eliminate these issues immediately?

3. What is the fastest and most direct way to solve each problem? 

 

Time and again, we've found that thoughtfully writting down your goals and your worries is an important step toward setting sound goals for your business. More importantly, it's a valuable first-step toward achieving them. 

 

Before you go

 

QB Community members, what's your go-to strategy for setting goals or solving problems -- or even doing both at the same time? Please share your stories!

 

Want to find out more?

  • Learn how to create a Morning Ritual that will help you develop your Main Goal
  • Understand what your Target Number should be and how to reach it

 

AudreyPratt
Level 7

Talk about your business

Do you have your main goals in mind? 

1. What are your three most important goals in your business right now?

2. What are your three most important financial goals right now?

3. What are your three most important family or relationship goals right now?

4. What are your three most important health and fitness goals right now?

ShanaNiederman
Level 6

Talk about your business

2018 is still so very fresh and new. It's a great time to revisit the ideas here in this article, and a great time to set your own business goals!

 

My main goal is to LEARN EVERY DAY.

 

What's yours?