You probably have an idea of where you want to be in the future. You’ve already achieved the goal of being a business owner, which is certainly an accomplishment to be proud of. But what’s next? Do you have specific plans for how you’ll grow your business and develop personally?
Continuing to set clear goals is an important part of owning a business, and can have a positive impact on your level of success. Here’s why, and what you can do to leverage goals as a tool.
Why is setting marketing goals important as a business owner?
Goals spark motivation.
Sometimes, you just don’t feel motivated to tackle a to-do list. But when daily tasks become part of a bigger process in your mind, you’re less inclined to procrastinate. Goals help you see less-than-ideal projects as valuable steps in getting to where you want to be.
Motivation is ultimately the energy that comes from knowing exactly what you want to achieve, how to do it, and feeling that you can actually choose to succeed (even when it’s difficult or requires sacrifice).
Goals increase productivity.
Achieving a goal is extraordinarily satisfying. Being motivated to achieve those goals means you’ll get more done in both the short and long term as you thrive on the thrill of accomplishment.
When you create big picture goals, you can boost productivity by planning steps or action items that will help you get there. It can help to think of them as “sub-goals” that are victories in and of themselves.
Goals might improve your mental health.
Psychologists often utilize goal setting in behavioral therapies for conditions like depression and anxiety. But even if you don’t have a diagnosis regarding mental health, evidence strongly suggests that you can still benefit psychologically from setting goals.
Challenging, actionable goals are linked to increases in self-esteem because they are rooted in personal values, utilize your individual strengths, and tend to lessen the occurrence of disappointments.
Goals give you a purpose.
Humans naturally want to live meaningful lives, but that looks different for everyone. Setting your own goals allows you to create the purpose you desire to fulfill based on your own ideals and values.
As a business owner, there’s no corporate office providing deadlines or milestones for you. It’s your own responsibility to make plans for the future that will yield any satisfying progress from your efforts. That’s a great thing if you’ve already demonstrated the tenacity to start a business; your goals reflect your own sense of identity, priorities, abilities, desires, and circumstances.
Tips for Setting Goals
Write them down.
Writing down your goals has more of an impact than you might think. Studies have shown that people who write down their goals are an average of 33 percent more likely to fulfill the desired result than if they don’t.
While it is great to keep your goals at the forefront of your mind, writing them down is scientifically proven to be more effective.
Set the right goals.
It’s crucial to be specific about your goals. Anything too generic makes it difficult to know exactly what to do and how to do it. Specific goals have built-in ways of measuring progress, which creates a path to success.
You also need to be realistic about your goals, striking a balance between challenging yourself and aiming too low.
Be committed.
Being consistent, organized, and committed to your goals is an essential part of fulfilling them. If you’re not careful, it can be easy to justify lack of follow-through with excuses.
You can nurture a sense of commitment by finding ways to work towards your goals somehow each day. Whether a task is large or small, making any kind of progress cultivates pride and keeps you focused.
Seek accountability and feedback.
Sharing your goals with others who have insight into your business or personal trajectory helps you sustain motivation to stick with your plans.
Choosing someone you look up to is a great idea, but it doesn’t have to be a mentor for the accountability relationship to benefit your path. Anyone you trust or admire can help keep you on track. Whether it’s a friend, former colleague, or a relative that isn’t afraid of honesty, make sure you share a specific plan for achieving your goals and touch bases frequently to dialogue about your efforts.
Did you know that Rise Marketing Solutions offers annual strategic planning sessions to help you set and achieve goals related to marketing and business growth? It’s one of our most popular services, and clients tell us it helps them clarify their goals, creates accountability and gives them clear action steps to work towards larger milestones. Book your 2022 annual strategic planning session with us today!
