I talk a lot about planning and goal setting because these things have the power to make or break your business. If you go in blindly just hoping for success, it likely won’t happen. Goal setting is equally as important as planning. Setting goals allows you to track progress and set milestones for yourself in what you consider success. You should always be striving for something better in your business to continue to grow. However, setting measurable goals is the best way to set goals that will help you achieve exactly what you want.
Measurable vs. Non-Measurable Goals
A measurable goal has a definite end to it – you’ll know when you’ve hit it.
Some examples of measurable goals are:
- Reach 500 subscribers by October 1st.
- Go to 2 networking events in November.
- Create 1 new font this month.
- Double my income from guest posting by February.
Some examples of non-measurable goals are:
- Get more Instagram followers.
- Sign up for more affiliate programs.
- Approach other blogs about guest posting.
Non-measurable goals have no trackable value to them. How will you know when you’ve reached your goal? If your goal is to get more followers on Instagram, how many new followers counts as a success? Non-measurable goals keep you from reaching your full potential because you’ll be less likely to strive for something bigger. For example, if you can count any number of new followers on Instagram as a success, you could be missing out on opportunities to really grow your following. Measurable goals should include two things: a measurable value and a timeline. The measurable value is something numeric, such as number of subscribers, amount of work created or income made. By setting this value, it allows you to track your progress to see how close you are to your goal. This may show you that you need to change something to reach your goal. It may also show you that you will surpass your goal far sooner than anticipated. By putting a time stamp on your goal, it keeps you accountable. It creates a definitive timeline for you to plan what you need to do to reach your goal.
Dream A Little Bigger
Setting lofty goals is better than setting a goal you know you can achieve. Looking at your analytics, you may know that you can reach a certain number of page views based on the previous trends. It’s easy to set a goal you know you can reach so that you can feel accomplished. It feels good to check things off a list, I know! I often add things to my to-do list that are simple tasks just to feel like I was extra productive. However, improving your business and gaining new skills comes from setting goals that are not always reachable. Doing so forces you to work a little harder or plan more strategically than you have before, which can lead to new ideas and better work streams.
Write Your Goals Down
I’ve created a goal setting worksheet to help you plan for and reach your goals. Try setting 3 new goals today and start working toward them. Writing down your goals is a great way to hit the ground running. Ideas become more concrete after we write them down or say them out loud. By writing down your goals, you’re holding yourself accountable for them. By holding yourself accountable, you are more likely to reach the goals you set! Use the goal setting worksheet I created for you and hang it up near your workspace to remind yourself what you’re working toward. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Good luck and happy goal setting!
