Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021 (Part 2)

This article is a continuation of last weeks article. If you have not read, Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021 (Part 1) check it out first. And now to your regularly schedule program.

Thought Starters for Goal Setting

More often than not, both new and experienced salespeople are uncertain about what goals to set and how to develop the action plans to meet or exceed them. The following suggestions can be used to get your Professional Goals and Path to Achievement started. DIT Tip: These same strategies can be used for setting and achieving Personal Goals as well!

1. Long Term Goals – Think about the future and ask yourself the following questions:
   1. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
   2. What position do you want to be in?
   3. Why is this important to you?
   4. What satisfaction does this provide, other than money?
   5. What are you prepared to do to reach this goal?
   6. Who can help you achieve this?
2. Intermediate Range Goals – Think about the things needed to put you on the right path to your long-term goals. Ask yourself the following questions:
   1. What do you need to accomplish in the next 1-5 years in order to reach your long-term goal?
   2. Why is this important to you?
   3. What satisfaction will you gain from accomplishing this?
   4. How committed are you to these goals and your long-term goals?
   5. What are you willing to do to ensure you accomplish these goals?
   6. Who can help you achieve them?
3. Short Term Goals – Think about the things that you need to accomplish right away. Ask yourself the following questions:
   1. What do you need to accomplish within the next 12 months?
   2. Why is this important to you?
   3. How does this put you on the path to your Intermediate and Long-term Goals?
   4. Are you sure these can be accomplished within a year?
   5. How do you plan to measure these goals?
   6. Who can help you achieve these goals?

Goals should never be about money

Making goals about money is one of the biggest mistakes that people, especially salespeople make. I am sure this sounds strange because “money makes the world go round,” however this is often mis-interrupted, because it is not the money that makes the world go round, it is what the money affords that does.

Let’s look at it another way. When you get your paycheck, you don’t cash it, stack all of the cash on the table, and sit there and stare at it. Maybe you do, but not for long. You take that money and spend it and save it according to your wants and needs.

Goals must be about what the money affords you, not the money itself. For example, if you need to have 1 million dollars in the bank so that you can retire. The goal should be about retirement and not the million dollars. The satisfaction of being retired is what you truly desire and will be the driver for you to achieve your goal.

Personal Growth Plan

Not only do you need to have a plan to achieve your goals, but you must also put your plan and goals in writing! There is a direct correlation between how well you follow a specific plan and actually achieving your goals. The purpose of this Personal Growth Plan is to kickstart your path to success. Although you are starting this planning process with short, intermediate, and long-term goals in mind, you are encouraged to follow through on implementing and revising your plans by utilizing the support network dedicated to sustaining your growth and success.

Step One:

Write your Vision Statement (Describe your ideal future. This should be inspirational and motivational to drive success):

Write your Mission Statement (A brief, clear, and concise statement that describes your Purpose, Desires, and the Method(s) that you are committed to, in order to achieve your SUCCESS. This is a guide that should be uplifting yet more practical than your Vision Statement):

Step Two:

Write 3 Long Term Goals (within the next 5-10 years) including Objectives and Action Plans for each:

1. Goal – Statement of desires based upon your vision and mission. This should be the beginning of your path to your Intermediate and short-term goals.
2. Objectives – Specific, Long-term, and Measurable with a Target Date
3. Action Plan: List specific actions to follow that will result in achievement of the goal inside of the time frame set. This will help guide your Intermediate and Short-term Goals. Include timetable for each action and how and when you plan to measure that you are on track for completion.

Goal 1:

Objectives:

Action Plan:

Goal 2:

Objectives:

Action Plan:

Goal 3:

Objectives:

Action Plan:

Step Three:

Write 3 Intermediate Term Goals (within the 1-5 years) including Objectives and Action Plans for each:

1. Goal – Statement of desires based upon your vision and mission. This should be the bridge between your long term and short-term goals.
2. Objectives – Specific, Intermediate-term, and Measurable with a Target Date
3. Action Plan: List specific actions to follow that will result in achievement of the goal inside of the time frame set. Include timetable for each action and how and when you plan to measure that you are on track for completion.

Goal 1:

Objectives:

Action Plan:

Goal 2:

Objectives:

Action Plan:

Goal 3:

Objectives:

Action Plan:

Step Four:

Write 3 Short Term Goals (within the next year) including Objectives and Action Plans for each:

1. Goal – Statement of desires based upon your vision and mission. This should be the beginning of your path to your Intermediate and long-term goals.
2. Objectives – Specific, Short-term, and Measurable with a Target Date
3. Action Plan: List specific actions to follow that will result in achievement of the goal inside of the time frame set. Include timetable for each action and how and when you plan to measure that you are on track for completion.

Goal 1:

Objectives:

Action Plan:

Goal 2:

Objectives:

Action Plan:

Goal 3:

Objectives:

Action Plan:

As stated at the beginning of this article, these are thought starters for setting and achieving your goals. Hopefully, not only will this article provoke thoughts but that it will provoke action as well! Goal setting and achievement is your #1 key to success. Please take this as seriously as I do. In fact, I take this so seriously, that anyone reading this article can, and is encouraged to reach out to me personally for help getting started. I can be reached at: joe@ditln.com. I am looking forward to 2021 and I hope you are as well!