As a business coach, I am a huge advocate for goal setting. In fact, it is one of the first exercises I go through with any of my clients no matter what type of business they have or where they are in business. But I also know that goal setting is not enough. The action is the most important part of getting your business to grow steadily and become sustainable.
After you have spent time writing out your GOAL which we have learnt should be SMART– Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time Bound, the next obvious step is to get into action. This is where many entrepreneurs falter, because they have no idea how to move from the goal they have written into the action to get their business moving. Here are 3 simple ways:
1. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to break their GOALS into smaller actionable steps. Break down the beautifully crafted goal which sound like a fairytale and decide what actions need to be taken over a specific period of time in order to achieve that goal. The actions could include hiring new staff, getting more active on social media, starting a blog, raising prices, collaborating and networking. Whatever action is chosen, the most important element is the action.
2. Set a time for each action to be completed. If there is an end date or time for an action to completed, it is more likely to get done. This deadline keeps the entrepreneur focused on the task at hand and encourages them to complete one task before jumping into another.
3. Share your goals with someone else who can hold you accountable to completing each task that leads you closer to your goal. An accountability partner is not for everyone but some entrepreneurs need to have someone to answer to, coupled with that extra motivation and push to get into action.
4. Create a reward system. Every accomplishment along your path to reaching your goal should be celebrated. Creating a system where you are rewarded for reaching each milestone is a great way to stay motivated and ensure that you take action towards your goal. It is about enjoying the journey and not just the end product.
5. Make the goals short term instead of long term. Short term could mean anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months. When entrepreneurs set shorter goals, they can visualise the outcome they desire and thus it is easier to get into daily action. This is a huge turning point from what we have been taught about setting 3 year and 5 year goals. While these long term goals are necessary, bringing those long goals into shorter goals makes it more likely for action to be taken.
Without Action, your goals mean nothing. Without action your business will not grow. Without action, you are just a dreamer!
Ready to get into action, then schedule a FREE 30 minute consult and let’s see your business grow