A goal is a specific, measurable result you want to achieve at a determinable time in the future. You won’t succeed in anything unless you are clear about what you want to achieve, how to measure and how well you have achieved it.

The concept of goals in business is often either overlooked or overworked in business success. Setting goals will steer you towards opportunities while enabling you to overcome obstacles necessary for their accomplishment. By setting goals you can determine what you want to accomplish and how you plan to achieve these goals.

The following steps will help you to set up your business goals correctly:

·Develop an initial list of goals. Write your goals down.

·List all the people affected by these goals, they maybe customers, competitors, partners and so on.

·List next to each goal the obstacles, limitations, rules within which the goals must be achieved. This could be inadequate funding or staffing which may limit the extent to which a goal may be achieved.

·Revise your goals, examine and think thoroughly of these constraints and after taking into account the impact they will have on your goals, arrive at a new and revised set of goals.

·Refine the new list

·Distinguish between primary and secondary goals: Primary goals typically relate to material product or service of your business and often related to profit. Secondary goals are achieved as a by - product of pursuing the primary goals and they relate specifically to satisfaction and achievement.

·Some goals may easily be identified as primary or secondary and some maybe a mix of both.

·Collate a final statement of goals. Each final statement needs to include both the primary and secondary goals. Each statement should be written so that the primary goals will be achieved and the secondary goals will be accomplished.

·Pick the one that seems the most achievable and satisfying.

·Compile a list of actions necessary to achieve this particular goal in sequence order

·Set realistic target dates (timeline) allocating dates for the sequential completion of these actions.

·Identify events affecting each point on the timeline which would have to occur before the listed event can be addressed.

·Develop a plan for solving these problems, the causes and appropriate solutions to resolve them.

·List ways in which the progress of the action plan will be monitored.

·Assign tasks, take each point on the timeline and ask “who will do that, by the date set?

·Finalize details and polish your plan.

·Take action, one step at the time and work towards achieving it

·Praise your self for every small achievement and every milestone passed.

Lama Kalla Small Business owner, Author of “Women in small business – Setting up your business right the first time” ebook, which is dedicated exclusively to women eager to succeed in small business TODAY!!! http://www.womeninsmallbusiness.com

• 2006! Your Best Year Yet!


• 10 Ways to Achieve Your Goals


• The Art of Achievement


• Choose Your Path


• Develop A Magnetic Lifestyle


• Defining Your Dash


• Empower Yourself for Success Today!


• Getting in Sync


• Grabbing Life by the Tail


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