The New Year and Goals

As we approach the new year we can always look back and see if we accomplished the goals we set last year. If you did, great and you will be ahead of most other business people. But did you set those goals too low or easy to attain? If you didn't reach your goals for the year but got close that's just as good. Your business goals should be just a little out of reach so it is not too easy but still possible. Stand near a wall and raise you arm so you touch the wall with your longest finger. Now with your arm still up move about 4-5 inches away from the wall. You are no longer touching the wall but if you stretch and make an effort you may still be able to touch the wall.

That is where your realistic goals should be, just out of reach but still possible. If your sales always increase every year because inflation or other factors at least 10% then your goal should not be to increase 12%, that's too easy. Shoot for a goal of 15-16% increase that will make you you put some effort and new ideas into your business to reach it. Also if you set a goal at 50% sales increase (when you usually get 10%) the chances of reaching it will be slim and you will lose interest in trying to make it happen. Realistic goals that are just out of easy reach will motivate you to try new things, offer a better customer experience and make your marketing pay off.

Barry is a meeting speaker on The Customer Experience, Building Business Relationships and Using social media/networking to generate profit. www.idealetter.com