We are nearing the end of January, and I am wondering if you have set some business goals for your upcoming year.

Clearly, there is nothing magical about the month of January. However, it is a natural time to look back at the past year to evaluate successes and failures. It is also a great time to look ahead and set a goal or three to achieve over the next 11 months. Whether you have been a small business owner for five years or five months, setting goals is critical to success. This is especially true if you are a new solopreneur or small business owner.

I am not a huge proponent of New Year’s resolutions. They are often open-ended, vague intentions based on emotion. Goals, on the other hand, easily outperform resolutions when set correctly. According to Brendan Dell clarity about what, why, and when really matters. Based on his podcast and some additional research, I have come up with the 3 Ps of effective goal setting. Goals are to be practical, pragmatic, purposeful, and planned.

Continue reading to discover how you can set effective goals. Ultimately, you will likely do less to achieve more.

I. Determining Your Practical Goal(s)

Let’s face it, no one likes to fail. But this happens because many goals, both personal and professional, are too big, too unrealistic, or too much. This is a recipe for disappointment, dissatisfaction, and/or burnout. Goals can either overwhelm or empower, frustrate or excite. While it is important to challenge ourselves, it is also important to be realistic. In order to avoid a path to failure, take the following steps to set practical goals:

1.  Set Time Aside to Evaluate

As a solopreneur or small business owner, you do not have a lot of time to do a lot of things and do them well. So rather than setting numerous goals, take time initially to evaluate the previous year. Discover what went well and what areas could be improved. Then, decide on your goal(s).

2.  Select 3 Goals Maximum

Having evaluated the past year, determine no more than 3 goals for your business for the upcoming year. This number is practical. It will prevent you from failing. Furthermore, let’s face it, we want to have a balanced work and personal life. This step will head off eliminating other important things in your life that bring you happiness.

Once you have the three, prioritize them. The first one has to be what really matters. Put first things first, and what follows may be a natural consequence of the first. Whatever the number—1, 2, or 3—by focusing on the most important first, your business will be propelled forward.

II. Making Your Goal(s) Purposeful

Now that you’ve taken the time to reflect and set (no more than) three goals, it’s time to focus on making them meaningful. This is accomplished by concentrating on why and when the goal will be achieved.

1. Why This Goal

A goal may appear to be a great idea at first glance, but it must fit with the BIG WHY you got into business in the first place. For example, you began your business to provide eco-friendly laundry supplies. Now your goal is to focus attention on sustainable packaging. This goal fits. It is not detracting from the overall mission of the business, but enhancing it. If the goal does not fit with your overall purpose of being in business, then maybe it needs to be reevaluated. When you know why you are making this your goal, you can face each day with purpose.

2.  When will the Goal be Reached?

Having decided upon the what and why, it is important to determine when the goal(s) will be reached. Having a deadline is important for a number of reasons.

A deadline provides the following:

• Accountability and Motivational Tool
• Great Time Management Tool
• Great Stress Management Tool

Initially, having a goal can be exciting, but over time, that excitement can fade. As a solopreneur or small business owner, it is important to write down and share your goals with someone else. They can encourage and support you as well as keep you accountable. As you move toward reaching your goal, you will be reinvigorated.

A time limit also helps prevent distractions and can enable you to track how you are doing. In turn, staying focused will manage your stress level. It can keep you from being overwhelmed by being pulled in one direction and then another. Perhaps, as a solopreneur wearing many hats, you will need the help of a freelancer. If you are a small business owner, you may have to delegate.

III.  Planning the Path to Achieving your Purposeful Goal(s)

According to  How to Set Effective Goals as a Solopreneur by Brenden Dell, what you are doing now, intentionally or otherwise, is going to produce what you are getting. If you want to introduce something new, you are going to have to create a different path. So, you have the what, the why, and the when answered, but now comes the breakdown of practical steps on your path to success.

STEP 1: Considering the Overall Picture

First, think about your daily activities, not only at work but also at home and in your community. If at all possible, limit your working hours to a maximum of 40 – 50 hours a week. If you work more than that, you will likely end up not wanting to do the tasks set before you or resenting the process. Outline your work/life balance schedule for the week.

STEP 2: Breaking Goal One into Bite Size Pieces

Then, consider that first priority goal and determine how you are going to reach it within a steady 40- to 50-hour work week over the next 11 to 12 months. Break the goal down. Perhaps consider putting it into blocks or chapters of time. Remember, it is better to move forward slowly and steadily than to sprint and burnout or not finish at all. As you chip away, you finish the first block or chapter and then move onto the next. There are a variety of apps available to assist you with this process. Perhaps you should consider purchasing one.

SMART Goal Tool

When I was part of the YMCA-YWCA Self Employment Program, we were encouraged to do an exercise called SMART Goal setting. It is a tool that a lot of people use and that works well for setting practical and useful goals and planning how to reach them. SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Limited. There are numerous websites that outline this process and give examples of how to write them.

Searching for the motivation to set a goal for your business? I hope the previous post will help. By clarifying your goals and making them practical, purposeful, and planned, your business will thrive. Doing less will produce more. So why not start today and set a goal?

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