Plan Out Your 3-Year Vision for Attracting Clients
In practice building (and getting clients) it seems to be
that most self-employed people just hope for the best. They
simply keep doing what they’ve been doing and don’t have a
strategy for creating the practice they’d be truly and
deeply happy with. This is a big mistake in my opinion.
I used to write down my goals each year, but it never
really worked for me. I just didn’t feel really excited
about my new goals. They didn’t seem to propel me in motion
and so I kind of viewed them as being useless. I never
really looked at them, probably because they seemed like
“shoulds” rather than “really-meaningful-wants.”
Then I came across the concept of creating 3-year visions
instead of just a list of goals for the upcoming year. This
visioning wasn’t just about business goals, but also
family, financial, spiritual, and relationship goals. It
became a “holistic” way of looking at what you wanted in
your life. All the pieces looked like they would work
together, but only because you were compelled to make it
all work together, which was the first time I’d done that
in such depth.
The coolest thing about visioning 3 years out came to me
after I started doing this regularly. I noticed that ONE
year goals were never too much of a stretch. They seemed
like timid goals, goals that didn’t really get me excited.
But having to create a vision of what 3 years down the line
would look like allowed me to REALLY think BIG.
Taking action is the only way to achieve goals
One of the items we talked about in my copywriting
business-building teleseminar this week was taking action.
You can think about great ideas, have big, elaborate
dreams, but if you don’t take action — now — nothing in
your life will change. Your dream will never become a
reality. Taking action is the only way you are going to get
your business off the ground. Taking action is the only way
you are going to get new clients. Taking action is the only
way you are going to get noticed at your company and get
promoted.
Think about what you want and how you are going to get
it…all of the time.
It doesn’t matter if your goals are personal or
professional, setting your mind to the one main goal you
want to accomplish will keep you focused on the outcome.
You will constantly be on the lookout for ways to achieve
that goal. Because it is always on your mind, you will be
constantly brainstorming. Your mind will continually be
looking for ways to take action on that goal.
You become what you think about. Focus on one item, your
one goal. Make it extremely positive, NOT negative.
Let Go of My Ego?
I have studied literature in leadership and spirituality
and have found a common thread. The common thread is this:
if you want to be successful and fulfilled you need to keep
your ego in check.
The ego is that part of us that is always asking: “But what
about me?” or saying “Look at me!” The lesson I’ve found in
these fields of study and in my own life is that when we
focus on our ego needs we can, at best, create a temporary
success. Often our ego gets in the way, creating pain and
suffering. If we want to build a good life, a good company,
or a good relationship, we need to take the focus off our
individual need to win, to be right, or to receive the
glory.
How To Set Goals That Stick
What do you think about when the word goal comes up in
conversation? Do you cringe and snort thinking to yourself
“right, goals . . . whatever. What’s the point of making
them if I won’t keep them?” Or, do your eyes light up as
you tick off a long list of goals for the New Year that
will be impossible to complete?
No matter if you have an optimistic or pessimistic outlook
about your small business goals for this New Year, both
outlooks have something in common and it is this:Â Unless
you know how to set goals properly, you will fail to
complete them.  So let’s start by defining exactly what a
goal is:Â A goal is something that is meaningful, powerful,
and transformative. A goal is something that will change
your life, your business, your career, or your family in
some meaningful way.
A goal is fierce!
• A goal is clearly defined
• A goal is very specific
• A goal has an action plan and time line for completion
To be an accomplished goal setter, you must become a
fearsome time manager by:
• Setting priorities
• Completing tasks on time
• Eliminating distractions
In other words, those who manage their time, manage their
world.
Three Parts To Setting Goals That Stick
