Many business start-up kits or consultants will tell you one of the first steps to starting a business is to define your business goals. Your goals may differ from the goals of another individual, for example; some people want freedom to do what they want to do, whenever they want, and without having to report to someone else. For others, the goal might be financial security. For another, flexibility or creativity might be their goal.
Regardless, setting goals is an important part of choosing a business that is right for you. Logically, if your business does not meet your personal goals, you probably will not be happy or get any sort of satisfaction from trying to make your business a success. Sooner or later you would stop putting forth effort needed to make the business concept successful. Here are a few qualities to keep in mind when you are setting your goals and searching for the business that is right for you.
1. Be specific. You have a much better chance of achieving a goal if it is specific. For example, "getting rich" is not a specific goal. "Earn $8,000 per month" is a specific goal.
2. Be optimistic. Keep your goals positive and optimistic. This will help to fire up your energy and enthusiasm to work towards and maintain the goal. For example, "pay the bills" is not an inspiring goal. However, "be debt-free within 18 months" is much more positive and achievable.
3. Be realistic. Look at your current income and where you want to be. If you have never earned $100,000 a month or year, then that may not be a realistic goal for you to set as you start your business. Begin with small steps and then, perhaps, increase your monthly income goal by 25 percent. Once your first goal is met, set a new goal until you gradually reach your larger, long-term goal.
4. Think short- and long-term. Whether you are looking at income, or in terms of growth, marketing or product development, you should have both short- and long-term goals. Short-term goals are those that may be attainable in a period of weeks to a year. Long-term goals can be those that you want to reach in three, five, ten, or even twenty years. Long-term goals should be substantially greater than short-term goals, but still realistic.
Writing your goals down will serve you well and be a constant reminder for you as you focus on your new business. Periodically review your goals and make adjustments where necessary so that you are always working towards something that is attainable. If you discover that a goal is too broad, or too difficult to reach, try breaking it down into smaller pieces.
These qualities are very simple concepts that you can apply. By defining specific, optimistic and realistic goals for both the short- and long-term focus you will be able to be energized and to develop a "go for it" attitude that will help you to achieve the goals in a timeframe that is best suited to your needs and business.
Publishing Rights: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author's information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. The author would appreciate an email indicating you wish to post this article to a website, and the link to where it is posted.
Copyright 2005, Michele Webb. All Rights Reserved.
The author owns her own website and is a member of a number of organizations for women Netpreneurs and business owners and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada USA with her two dogs. You can contact Michele at news@ebooksnstuff.com or visit her website at: news@ebooksnstuff.com
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWe all agree Strategic Planning is a critical part of... Read More
With the help of balanced scorecard strategy map, it is... Read More
If you are in the parking business and own or... Read More
The University of Exeter in the United Kingdom recently published... Read More
Here's a really simple way to make sure your plans... Read More
You know you need a business plan. You probably realize... Read More
Every new business owner knows that a business plan is... Read More
GETTING STARTED WITH SUCCESSION PLANNING: PART IA survey of 4,300... Read More
With a heightened awareness of opportunity, ideas can often be... Read More
Richard L. Daft one of the country's recognized academic leadership... Read More
The first task before hiring a contractor for home remodeling... Read More
Obviously, there will never be an actual water shortage since... Read More
The foundation of any business transaction is the promise of... Read More
Storytelling and writing a business plan actually go hand in... Read More
"Most great plans aren't. They are just nice, high-level ideas."That's... Read More
"Begin with the end in mind," says Stephen Covey in... Read More
One of the quintessential parts to any business is your... Read More
Why cut costs now? Efforts are multiplying to cut costs... Read More
Business rises and falls on leadership. According to business guru,... Read More
So you've decided to write your own business plan because... Read More
I. INTRODUCTIONThe term resilience, which is of frequent use in... Read More
Want to become more strategic? Add these traits to your... Read More
If ever there were an industry where we want zero... Read More
Making money doesn't make your reputation... your reputation makes you... Read More
Do you work in or own a business that's affected... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..Most companies that are worthy of raising venture capital have... Read More
With a heightened awareness of opportunity, ideas can often be... Read More
One of the quintessential parts to any business is your... Read More
Much of what we heard in the mass media about... Read More
Do you work in or own a business that's affected... Read More
Want to become more strategic? Add these traits to your... Read More
There are no "rules of thumb" in the pursuit of... Read More
Richard L. Daft one of the country's recognized academic leadership... Read More
If you are a manufacturer wanting to use your business... Read More
This week I coached a wonderfully lovely woman I'll call... Read More
Growing your own small business can be one of the... Read More
While writing an article recently on effective ways to bridge... Read More
Imagine spending the same amount of money on marketing and... Read More
Although North Americans were the dominant population on the Internet,... Read More
Is there really anything as a problem? Does chaos or... Read More
The decision to sell, or not to sell your business... Read More
Is there a 'magical' way to exponentially grow your business?It's... Read More
Q: A key investor in my business has suggested that... Read More
The current state of the available technology at the disposal... Read More
After 128 years of business, a household word, Montgomery Wards,... Read More
Writing a business plan is an essential part of the... Read More
With the help of balanced scorecard strategy map, it is... Read More
Writing a Business Plan these days is tough, venture capitalists... Read More
In 1989, Sony founded its Institute of Wisdom at the... Read More
Storytelling and writing a business plan actually go hand in... Read More
Strategic Planning |