How to Set the Right Goals and Grow Your Business


July 10, 2019

If you’re your own boss, or you aspire to be, then you know how important it is to set goals you’ll actually achieve. 

But you’ve probably also realized that setting a goal is the easy part… crushing that goal is the hard part!!

More often than not, business owners will set goals that are way too hard to achieve… they give up midway here… or they’re way too easy and it leads to lost motivation. 

So how do you hit that sweet spot of just right?

Well, apart from setting goals the SMART way, there are a few more things you should know about. Keep reading on to learn how to grow your business by setting and crushing all the right goals! 

1. Think about your why. 

Ultimately, the goals you set for your business should be somehow connected to your WHY—the vision you have for your business. 

For example, if writing a book was never part of the plan, setting a goal to finish writing your own book because ‘that’s what people do’ is probably something you’re not going to enjoy. 

A goal should inspire you, not cause frustration or lead to burn out! 

Recommended read: How to Build Your Business (The Right Way) 

2. Set goals the SMART way. 

Experience has shown that there’s no better way to set goals than the SMART way. 

SMART goals are a brilliant way to make sure you’re setting a goal that’s possible to achieve and a goal that’s fully aligned with your vision. 

Here’s what the acronym SMART stands for: 

Specific

Setting a specific goal means you’re not just saying, “I’d love to do that someday!” 

You’re deciding what you want to do and being as detailed as possible. 

For example, if you want to start selling your own course, don’t just add sell my own course as a goal. 

What do you actually want to teach people about? What format do you want the course to be in? What’s the best way to get started here? 

Get down to the very bottom of things. The more details you give yourself at the beginning, the easier it’s going to be for you to reach the final destination! 

Measurable 

This is the part that most people underestimate. And I understand that it might seem silly and overwhelming to constantly obsess about numbers and data, but it’s important.

Here’s the thing, goals that aren’t measurable (in at least some way), aren’t effective. You have to know at all times whether what you’re doing is working or not. Whether you’re moving forward or not.

There’s no need to measure your goal every minute of every day. However, find something that works for you (and your goals!) and do a reality check every once in a while to make sure you’re moving in the right direction. 

Pro tip: There are dozens of online tools that can help you track progress based on actual numbers. Oh, and don’t be so scared of measuring goals. There’s nothing more motivating than tracking your work and seeing progress! 

Attainable 

This is the tricky part of goal setting—not too big, not too small. Just right. Easier said than done, huh? 

The goals you set, ideally, are doable but not too easy. Easy goals don’t feel as challenging, while goals that are too hard may feel disappointing and have you giving up midway. 

Let’s say, if you’re trying to grow your email list and you’re just starting out, don’t say that your goal is to reach 5,000 subscribers within the first month. Instead, use percentages – I want to grow my email list by 10% every month. 

Relevant 

Relevant goals are the goals that help you live your dream life. 

To ensure a goal is relevant to your mission and vision, look at the bigger picture. Will this smaller goal now help you reach a bigger goal later in life? 

If we take the book writing example again, will writing a book help you do [insert something you’ve always wanted to do/have/be] in life? 

If the answer is no, not really, then you know you should put your attention somewhere else. But if the answer is, yes absolutely, then you know what your next goal is supposed to be. 

Timely/Time-bound 

A goal without a deadline is just wishful thinking. 

Don’t give yourself an impossible deadline, but don’t leave this part out! 

Setting a deadline—even if it’s the most reasonable deadline in the world—puts you under pressure. In return, that gives you a much-needed sense of urgency and gets you to act now! 

3. Plan how you’ll take action. 

Talking about action… how do you eat an elephant? One small bite at a time! 

If you’ve set larger goals, break it into smaller milestones. If you’ve already done that, then plan how you’re going to reach the first milestone, and then the second one, and then the third! 

For example, if you’re writing your own course, this week you’re going to finish Chapter One. In week number two, you’re going to get all the attachments and visuals ready, etc. 

While you can’t always plan everything, it’s good to have at least some basic idea of how you’re going to get from point A to point B, and then to point C. 

4. Celebrate victories along the way! 

It’s so easy to get lost in the pursuit of your next goal… and then your next goal after that! 

But if you’re in this for the long run, don’t forget to stop and celebrate each tiny victory along the way. Setting and crushing your goals the right way is not a sprint—it’s a marathon. 

Besides, there’s nothing more inspiring than looking back and seeing just how far down the road you’ve come. 

What goal are you going to crush today? What goal did you hit that you can celebrate? Write a comment so we can celebrate together!



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