Goal Setting.  Did I just hear you roll your eyes?  Yes, I believe I did

I can understand why some people moan at the thought of goal setting.  Whether we realize it or not, it’s usually tied to memories of failure or disappointment to achieve something important to us, or to someone else (our company, manager, CEO, spouse, etc…).  Some of us even convince ourselves that goal setting is a waste of time and, as I’ve heard it stated,  “actually limits me in achieving more than that stated in my goal” (what a joke!)

I’m convinced that it’s not necessarily goal-setting itself that is painful, as much as it is HOW one goes about it.  If done properly, goal setting will actually stimulate new ideas, solutions, and aspirations.  And this makes it (dare I say) fun!  Creating goals to achieve your dreams is exciting stuff.  No question.

So that you can successfully revel in goal achievement, here are 7 traps to avoid when setting your personal and professional goals:

Trap 1: Failing to dream

When I’ve asked clients, family, and friends to create a list of at least 50 dreams (things they want to do, become, achieve or attain), I often get a ‘deer in the headlights’ look followed by a list of about 5 things.  Why is that?  Why is it so hard for many us to dream?  Dreaming is not only healthy; it is a necessary first step for setting goals.  Here is a tool that can help you think about the things you want to do/become/achieve/attain: Dream Inventory

Trap 2: Overlooking your starting point

With your dreams in hand, you’ve got to assess where you stand in key areas of your career and life.  Simply doing a personal/organizational S.L.O.T. (Strengths, Limitations, Opportunities, Threats) analysis can help you understand your starting point.  Clearly knowing your starting point helps in identifying the key areas you want to create goals.

Trap 3: “Storing” your goals in your brain

This simply is not going to work for you.  We have got to write our goals down onto a piece of paper.  I, too, have tried storing goals in my head only to forget, specifically, what the goal was until it morphed into something completely other than I originally intended.  This practice further allowed me to make excuses for why I didn’t get something done right, or not at all.  Sound familiar? Sorry…goals aren’t concrete unless they are written.

Trap 4: Adopting someone else’s goals as your own

If you did not create the goal you’re trying to achieve personally, you will not feel inspired toward achievement, nor will you likely achieve.  For example, your director may say to you “We need you performing in the top 15% of the company” (of course they do).  Your goal, in turn, should not be “I will perform in the top 15% of the company by Q1”.  You should have several personal goals that, once achieved, have you exceeding 15% naturally.

Trap 5: Blowing off S.M.A.R.T. Criteria

You’ve heard of SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistically High, Trackable (time bound).  A goal missing any one of these criteria will lack direction.  The purpose of a goal is to provide direction so achievement can be realized. Ask yourself, is my goal specific or is it vague?  Is it attainable or is it out of reach for me? Is it high enough and/or am I pushing myself enough? And finally, by what month, day, and year will I have achieved my goal?  Be real with yourself.

Trap 6: Not planning for obstacles

Obstacles are inevitable.  Whatever your SMART goal, there will be at a minimum one or two obstacles for which you must acknowledge as real, and 100% coming for you.  What are they?  Brainstorm all the possible obstacles that will destroy your goal achievement.  Then ask yourself, what action steps do I need to take to overcome these obstacles when and as they occur?  You may even find your action step becomes a goal in and of itself.

Trap 7: Failing to implement your action steps

Just like we need to write our SMART goals down on paper, we need to implement our actions steps toward achieving our goals and overcoming our obstacles.  I keep my action steps on my Astrid TO/DO Application on my smart phone.  You may have some other way.  Whatever it is, keep track of your action steps.  Prioritize them; give them deadlines.

We are often so busy we want to bypass writing down goals, thinking about goals, etc…the anxiety of today’s chaotic business environment provides a nice adrenaline rush, amongst other things. Remember to slow down for a few moments each day and remember your dreams, what you want, and why.

I love the phrase, “just do it!”  But first we must ask ourselves, “just do what?”  What is my aim?  How long will it take me?  How will I get there?  Where will I start?  When will I start?  When will I finish?  Why do I want to do this?  Then…just do it!

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How would you finish this statement: Your Company Will Only Be As Great As…………..

I’ll get to how I believe the statement should be completed at the end of this article, but if you’re not sure, maybe you’ll pick up a few obvious hints along the way

Part 5 of this article series brings to light three important things a CEO must do for his/her workforce: (1) Communicate one concise and transcendent goal; (2) Communicate an inspiring, visionary description of what success looks like when the company achieves it’s transcendent goal; and (3) Align the entire workforce (whether 3 people small or 5,000+ employees big) with the strategic business plan for achieving that one transcendent goal so that the vision for success will be truly realized via measurable results.

As a student of Collins & Porras’ book, Built To Last, I would argue the above three items represent the CEO’s ultimate role and responsibility to the organization everyday, all the time.  Put simply, its called providing direction, so that everyone can point in the same direction.  And thus, avoid confusion, cynicism, replication of efforts, the classic CYA mentality, fear to make decisions, and so on and so forth.

1) Communicate one concise and transcendent goal

Consider, as an example, the following 5-year goal and subsequent visionary description for my clean technologies venture:

Green Axis, Inc. is the world leader in providing cost-effective, green energy solutions.

• Our products are zero fuel; zero emission energy systems
• We offer a breadth of solutions that can accommodate commercial and industrial businesses, data centers, homeowners, and government agencies
• Our technologies integrate wind and solar energy, enabling homes and businesses to obtain on-demand power from renewable sources, while generating revenue from the utility company
• We eliminate customers’ recurring costs for their electrical power needs
• We have created hundreds of new green jobs
• We have become a model “leadership, growth and people company”

Now consider the following feedback Green Axis received about the “Company Vision” from a judge in a recent business plan competition:

“Overall vision comes across way to broad – sounds like you want to be everyone’s solution, which just doesn’t sound practical for a business long term objective.  Would help to see you pitch more as a proof of concept than as a business.”

Notice how the judge would’ve been more comfortable with a short-sighted vision of simply achieving a company milestone!  As the CEO of your company, you should not be comfortable with such shortsightedness.  Although “proof of concepts” and milestones may be critical, they’re only pieces of a bigger picture…your vision for success.

That said, here’s a tip for creating a transcendent goal.  Consider a simple statement of who the company is or what the company wants to become in 5 years.  Not 6 months, but 5 years.  And yes, it should absolutely be great and emotionally hook your workforce.  No doubt about it!

2) Communicate an inspiring visionary description of what success looks like when the company achieves it’s transcendent goal

What does it look like when you become the company you want to become, or achieve the revenue number you want to achieve, in 5 years?  Describing what achievement looks like will help people visualize success and their specific role in helping to achieve it.

And don’t just discuss your company’s goal and visionary description at the beginning of the year, but discuss it every day of every week to the very best of your ability.  Imagine how inspiring this could be to your workforce at an economic time like this.

If as leaders we are hesitant to speak transcendentally and uphold a vision of success for our company because we are fearful of failure, only one thought comes to mind: self-fulfilling prophecy.

3) Align the entire workforce with the strategic business plan for achieving the transcendent goal so that the vision for success will be truly realized via measurable results

I know this sounds like a mouthful, but its important to remember why aligning a workforce is so critical: So that results can actually be measured and achieved.

Once the 5-year goal and vision for success has been formally communicated, all personnel and departments must tailor their daily work activities toward achieving that goal.

Everyone should know what the 5-year goal is.  Test them…randomly ask your teams and employees throughout the year what the company’s goal is.  Further ask them what some of their personal goals for helping to achieve the larger, transcendent goal is as it pertains to their unique roles and responsibilities.

Everyone must have goals – and a clear path for achieving their goals – if they are going to get the company to the place you need and want it to be in 5 years.  No ifs, ands, or buts, about it.

Here’s a friendly reminder: this is what your management team is for.  Are they doing their job overseeing the clarification and achievement of goals in your workforce?  Furthermore, do you empower management to do this job well?

OK…so here’s my final thought on the question I posed earlier:

Your company will only be as great as your vision for success!

What’s yours??

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Time is the substance I am made of.
Time is a river that sweeps me along, but I am the river;
Time is a tiger that can rip me apart, but I am the tiger;
Time is a fire that can consume me, but I am the fire.
~Jorge Luis Borges

I don’t believe there is any one secret system for everyone to effectively manage all the activities that make up our day.  But I do believe if there is one “secret” to effectively managing our time, it’s the fact that we are time itself.  What we choose to do every minute of the day is a product of ourselves, and hence, a direct reflection of our person and performance.

The quote above serves as an excellent reminder that it is ourselves who can overwhelm our “self” with activities, or streamline production.  In essence, Time Management is Self Management. 

To be successful, we need to get a lot of things done, fast.  Furthermore, the things that we “do” need to be done right (the first time)!  That’s why we need time/self management!  No one is exempt.

Here are a few suggestions to begin developing your unique system to effectively manage yourself:

• Make a list of your biggest dreams:

Seriously, what do you want to do in your lifetime personally and professionally?  Think in terms of life categories: social, physical, mental, career/financial, and spiritual.  Prioritize these “wants” and set S.M.A.R.T (specific, measurable, attainable, realistically high, and trackable) goals to track and measure your progress toward achieving your dreams.

If we don’t spend the time in our life reaching for our dreams, we will be unhappy, guaranteed.  To manage yourself and your time around your goals and dreams is step 1 in effectively managing your time.  To not do so, limits your potential for results.  What is your opportunity cost if you ignore your dreams?

Remember, someone is always willing to tell you what to do with your time.  Make your time yours; helping others with your unique skills and abilities in alignment with your passions and dreams is your time well spent, while serving those around you.

• Include your goal-oriented activities in your daily task list:

First, start using a daily task list.  If you think you’re too busy or important to keep a task list, you are probably feeling overwhelmed, disorganized or are oblivious to the inconvenience you cause others with your mismanagement of time and resources.  Good luck to you!

If you are one of those who is using a daily task list, save a line item for a task that will help you achieve a personal and professional goal everyday.  Do this, and you will undoubtedly achieve your goals.

Take a glance at your task list right now.  Is there anything on there today that serves you and your company in aspiring towards greatness?

• Spend most of your time in production (creating or providing your product/service), sales, and marketing:

I actually had a business owner tell me, “I have plans for marketing, but I’m just too busy to deal with that right now”.  Hold the phone!  None of us should ever be too busy to market our businesses, products and services or ideas on a daily basis!

A valuable insight I learned during a teleseminar hosted by Stephanie Frank, author of “The Accidental Millionaire”, is that 7-figure companies spend most of their time in sales & marketing-related activities, while 6-figure companies spend most of their time in production-related activities.  Those companies earning less than 6 figures were consumed with administration. This logic makes a lot of practical sense.

Take another look at your task list.  Which of your activities are indicative of someone operating or working for a 6- or 7-figure organization?  What is your Sales/Marketing : Production : Administration ratio?  What will your new ratio be?  Start your new activity ratio ASAP and reap improved results!

• When you fall off schedule or task, start over:

The beauty of creating a personalized self/time management system is that it is a “system”.  Systems can be modified, obliterated, and recreated according to need and circumstance.  And a good system can always be resorted to, even if you have a bad day.

I’ve fallen off schedule many times in a week as a result of a distraction or an emergency.  What saved me every time is having a system to go back to, and then picking up where I left off.  Without a system, an interruption or crisis can disrupt your productivity and results for weeks!

A good system consists of key categories according to days of the week, times of the day, etc.  Depending on your job functions, determine the appropriate categories for you, and segment your activities accordingly.  Don’t forget sales, marketing, and production should be integrated throughout!  Even if your role is administrative, you have ideas to sell and personalized products to create and produce.

What is at least one way you can improve your self-management today?

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