Well I will admit it.
I succumbed to the: “It’s the first of the year and I have to put weight loss on my New Year’s resolution list” thing. Actually I don’t make resolutions, but I set a goal to get healthy this year. I have committed to eating properly, exercising and stop using the excuse of my hectic business travel schedule.
That being said, on a recommendation of a friend, I tried Weight Watchers. It hadn’t been very long but already I see a difference, a small difference… but a difference. Would it be nice to have dropped a lot of lbs? Sure. But just like in business and in sales, little bits at a time is smarter and has a much better chance for success.
How to Improve your Business, Incrementally
I have heard many small business owners say that they set New Year’s resolutions to set higher sales goals. However, a resolution and a goal are two different things. First, let’s talk about how you should correctly set goals for yourself.
1. Begin with revenue goals.
Not necessarily your company’ goals but your own. What do you need to get what you want? When do you want to be able to retire? How much will you need? If you don’t know these answers, you need to meet with a financial consultant and figure it out. Once you understand what you need to reach, add at least 5% because I am sure you have underestimated.
2. Next you will have to detail your daily and weekly activities.
Begin detailing what you need to do every day, week and month to reach your revenue goals. I know you are now asking yourself, “How should I know what to put down since I haven’t tracked my previous activity?” If this is the case, you will need to estimate and forecast your daily, weekly and monthly activities.
3. Lastly, track your work, productivity and inputs.
After you have guesstimated these numbers it is important to track them every day. You need to do this for at least 90 days to begin to have a true idea of what it will really take to meet your goals.
As long as you meet your daily goals, you will be successful day by day. That’s important.
Most people look at the entire revenue goal and don’t break it down into small pieces. It is easy to feel overwhelmed in business unless you break it down into small hurdles that can be jumped. If you can find ways to pat yourself on the back every day, then week, then month, you will not only meet your goals but you won’t give up after looking at the whole goal.
So I am not losing 20 pounds, I am eating 23 points a day… and that–I can handle.
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Photo: Massimo Dutti
Greta Schulz is president of Schulz Business SELLutions in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is the best-selling author of “To Sell is Not to Sell.” Greta does corporate training for Fortune 1000 companies and she has an online training course for entrepreneurs.
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