Goals. Whether you love them or loathe them, there’s no denying they’re crucial in helping you grow your business. They’re how successful people become successful - end of.
People like Lady Gaga who was so hell bent on becoming a pop star that she’d repeat a daily mantra to herself: “‘Music is my life. The fame is inside of me. I’m going to make a number-one record with number-one hits,’' she said in a 2009 Fuse interview. “And it’s not yet. It’s a lie. You’re saying a lie over and over and over again. And then one day, the lie is true.’ The meat-wearing songstress has actually since had four number-one albums to her name, plus countless top-10 hits, so go figure.
They work for little old me too, helping me go from signed off work with stress and anxiety to qualifying as a coach in just 8 months. How? I got clear on what I wanted and why, set myself challenging but achievable goals and I worked on them every damn day.
And they work for women like my client Athina, who says:
‘When I first started coaching with Lauren, I remember saying I wanted someone helping me 3 days a week, having warehouse storage for clients, as well as office space. All of these at the time, were a huge financial commitment and although I knew they were vital in helping grow my business Topology Interiors, they all felt out of reach. But by working through them with Lauren, writing them down and giving them a time-frame, it really spurred me into to making them happen because I knew they were going to be good for my business - even though I was always a bit scared of committing to them mainly because of the financially investment & fear of failure. Having achieved them all now, I look back on them and think ‘Yes I’ve smashed these - Wow I’ve come a long way. In fact, they’re just the norm now.’
Put simply, goals help you improve your mindset which in turn helps you grow your business. But did you know that only 8% of people achieve their goals? I was absolutely gobsmacked when I heard this.
Here’s 10 ways to make sure you don’t fall into the 92% who don’t achieve them.
1. Think big - dare to dream.
Always start broad before narrowing down, All too often we 'play it small', thinking in terms of what we think we 'can' achieve. But start by asking yourself what you want to BE, DO and HAVE, before getting specific. So examples could be I want to be a home owner, I want to do more brand collaborations, or I want to have more income from my business.
2. Get clear on your ‘why’
Really ask yourself, why do I want this? What will it give me? What impact will it have on my life? So for example, rather than saying ‘I want to grow my business’, if you said ‘I want to grow my business so I’ll have more income, which will provide a happier and more comfortable life for my family’ - can you feel how much more impactful that is?
3. Put a date on them
As scary as it can be to say you want to achieve X by Y date, a goal without a date is just a dream.
4. Write them down
People who write their goals down are 42% more likely to achieve them than those who don't.
5. Write them in the positive rather than negative
So instead of saying ‘I want to stop procrastinating’, or 'I want to feel less scared about xxx', replace those negative words with more positive ones. A good way to think about it is what's the opposite of what I've just said? So ‘I want to stop procrastinating’ could become ‘I want to start getting motivated’. And ‘I want to feel less scared' could become 'I want to feel more confident’.
6. Get really specific
The more woolly goals are the less likely it is you’ll achieve them. So. instead of ‘I want to get more clients this year’ instead really pinpoint exactly how much this “more” is and how you specifically will measure it. Eg you might say I want 3 more clients a month, but someone else might say ‘I want 20 more clients a quarter’. It's totally up to you and your preference, but just make sure it's specific.
7. Write them like you've already achieved them
This small and simple change tricks your mind into thinking they've already happened, that there's no chance they won't happen. For example, instead of saying ‘By April 2021 I want to have 10 more clients a month,’ say,’ Its April 2021 and I have 10 more clients a month’. Can you feel how much more powerful the second one is?
8. Make sure they're achievable but challenging
They need to feel at least a 7 out of 10 challenging, or you won't be motivated enough. You have to feel that little bum twitch that shows you're out of your comfort zone.
9. Remind yourself of them every day
Whether that’s in your daily planner, calendar, journal or sticking them up somewhere - you need to visualise them. I printed off and put up a fake certificate with my qualification date on it and guess what - I qualified a month early.
10. Tell people about them
Once people know about them and they're are out there, you’re accountable and there's no going back.
If there’s one thing you take away, let it be this. Whether you like the word ‘goal’ or not, there really is no other way to grow your business. Call them ‘targets’, ‘aims’, ‘objectives', hell call them ‘the holy grail’ - whatever works for you. Just set them, stick to them and you’ll achieve more than you ever thought possible.
Are you wanting to grow your business or side hustle but don't know how? Maybe you've got loads of ideas, but can't work out the right way to go? Either way, book in a free discovery call to see if we vibe!
Meet Lauren
Career Change & Business Coach and Side Hustle Queen
Hi, I'm Lauren. I burnt out, hit rock bottom and used the experience to manifest my dream life. I now help passionate and ambitious women change career, start side hustles and grow businesses. I'm living proof that you can - and deserve to - have it all.
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