This is in no way a new concept, but it is one that I like to deploy to make goal setting more manageable. We all have set New Years resolutions on January 1 with the best intentions. For some reasons, they seem to last about 7 hours before we give ourselves an excuse to break them. What if we set new resolutions or goals at the beginning of every month?
I used to set goals for my business for the year, and to be truthful, I still do. I need a path to follow and stay on track. The goals I set are to hit certain numbers of sales throughout the year. I have a whiteboard in my office displaying them for me and the team to see every day. Keeping goals up front and center is an important reminder of one of the reasons we come to work every day.
I am a student of life and am always trying to improve something. That something could be something in my business. A way to be more efficient or a way to give better service to my clients. It could be something in my personal life like a way to be more present at home or a way to manage stress more effectively.
What I like to do, is in the beginning of every month, try something new, every day for that month. They say it takes 21 days to start a habit so if I can do something every day for a month, there is a chance this thing, will turn into a habit. I like the simplicity of it and it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
You can choose things like:
- journal every day
- meditate every day
- read a book every day
- drink more water every day
- no sweets for a month
- create some form of content every day (podcast, blog, video, etc)
- Write a thank you note every day
- golf every day (this one is a longshot)
- work on a new marketing strategy every day
- call and thank clients every day
Now, if you have seen one of my favorite movies, “What About Bob”, the strategy Bob Wiley deploys to overcome his crippling fears is called “Baby Steps”. One foot after the other.
Instead of taking these things one month at a time, he takes it moment to moment. On things that are very challenging, this isn’t a bad approach either. For example quitting smoking. This is a one day at a time habit that you are trying to break so setting a daily goal is a good way to go.
In one year, you will have tried to build 12 different habits to improve your business or yourself. Odds are some of these will stick and you are on your way to a more productive business or a more centered lifestyle.