 |
 |
|
Success in Business |
|
|
|
"Success in business"
cannot be specifically defined for the masses because success can be
defined quite differently for each business and by each individual.
Therefore, in order to achieve success in business, it is first
necessary to come to terms with your own definition of success. Each
individual’s definition of will be influenced by several key
factors:
- Business success is subject to individual interpretation based
on upbringing, past experiences, role models, competitive forces,
personal motivations and goals. For some, merely staying in
business can be considered success, while for others it could be
achieving a certain level of sales or an IPO. Carefully
contemplate what your definition of business success really is
based on your core values—not what you’re your accountant or Wall
Street tells you it is.
- Your view of business success will change at various times
throughout business cycles and your career. For example, what
might be deemed successful early in your career might be viewed
very different as you prepare to sell your business and retire to
the Caribbean. Your definition of business success will continue
to change, so don’t make the error of pursuing an outdated version
of it.
- As you achieve success in business, it is sometimes measurable
and sometimes not. Accumulating a certain volume in sales is
certainly one way to measure success, but it is not the only way;
earning a prestigious award, earning the respect of your peers, or
providing livelihood to your employees may be far more meaningful
to you.
- Very few people achieve success in business accidentally. Most
people who achieve business success first defined it, then planned
for it, and pursued it diligently; they set goals to achieve it.
Once you have defined what it means to achieve
business success, your next step is to set goals that will lead you
to your definition of success. You must create realistic, viable
plans to achieve those goals. Follow your plans, be flexible, and
enjoy the process.
Here are five simple steps to help
you define and achieve your goals:
Success in
Business Step #1: Identify Your Goal
Clearly determine
what the goal is. Be specific.
- Bad: “To earn more profit.”
- Good: “To expand the sales force by 15 people by the end of
the year.”
It is best to manage some short-term, some
mid-term, and some long-term goals at the same
time.
Success in Business Step #2: Identify Your
Obstacles
List all the obstacles standing between you (or
your team) and the goal. Identify resources, assistance, information
or anything else that might be needed to reach the goal. As your
writing, don’t get discouraged by the obstacles– they’re absolutely
necessary to help you with the next step in completing your plan.
Success in Business Step #3: List Tasks to Overcome
Each Obstacle
Taking each obstacle one at a time, write
one or more ways the obstacle could be overcome. These are tasks (or
action items) that will comprise your to-do list. Expect to have
several tasks per obstacle.
Success in Business, Step
#4: Assign Task Deadlines and Set Up Task Reminders or Other
Alerts
Assign a start and completion date to each task in
the plan. It’s ok to be working on several different tasks at the
same time, but don’t overdo it. Be realistic. Assign a reminder or
alert to each task in the plan to keep you on track. If you're using
myGoals.com, you can specify how often you want to be reminded via
email of every task you've listed in your plan. You can choose to be
reminded daily, weekly, monthly, at random, etc.
Success in Business, Step #5: Follow Your Success
Plan
If you use myGoals.com, by the time to you've
reached this step, you will have defined a GoalPlanTM.
Complete each task in succession. Revisit your GoalPlan often and
make sure to use your reminder system to keep you on track.
Additional Suggestions:
- If your success plan is too long or complicated, try breaking
it into several smaller, more manageable plans.
- Don’t rely on luck or things outside your control as part of
your success plan.
- Be flexible–expect your success plan to change before you
complete it. Circumstances change, unexpected events occur, and
your plan should be updated to adapt to changes. Use planning
software such as myGoals.com
to help construct your plan and modify it regularly.
- Seek the input of others who have expertise in the area or who
have completed a similar goal.
- Reward yourself for partial success as significant milestones
are accomplished.
Success Tools & Resources for Success in
BusinessmyGoals.com (this Web site) was designed to help
you achieve success, regardless of how you chose to define it. By
helping you select and pursue personally fulfilling goals, you
create a clear, defined path to your own personal success.
myGoals.com's pre-made GoalPlans®, goal-setting wizard,
and email reminders are extremely effective tools for creating
viable plans and keeping you on track.
As priorities change
(and circumstances change), goals will change as well. myGoals.com
provides a convenient, flexible, and easy way to manage your path to
success. We encourage everyone to pursue their goals with
passion. Personal success is yours alone to define, pursue, and
achieve. We are here to help.
To
learn more or sign up for a free trial, visit our goal-setting
homepage.
|
| |
|
