“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” – Pablo Picasso
As Q2 comes to a close, I’ m now reflecting on the past three months, and looking ahead to Q3. For me, planning for business success is intentional, methodical and essential; I like to know where I am, and really think about where I want to be in 90 days so I can be sure I’m laser focused on the right tasks.
I always advise clients to do the same, here’s why:
- it increases your focus and makes you more productive, reducing the amount of time wasted
- you always know where your business is, and where you want to go
- you know you are spending time and energy on the right things
- when you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, your goals will give you clarity, and a reference point
- planning supports decision making
Keep reading for my 3-step guide to reviewing your progress to date, and creating a framework for the next three months.
- Review Q2 and make a note of:
– your biggest achievements
– any goals you didn’t reach, and why
– your KPIs (benchmark actuals v planned)
– what you were grateful for
– which daily activities supported your wellbeing and personal development
– any distractions you need to eliminate
– any outstanding bills or invoices - Consider your goals for Q3:
– think about the big picture: what do you want to achieve? It could be a new launch, or to finish Christmas planning, for example
– map out your planned sales, stock, profit and traffic goals in line with your KPIs
– get clear on your planned outgoings and ensure you can still afford them
– be ruthless and cut costs where required - Break down your goals in to monthly targets that you can track:
– write down your goal, with a deadline and clear steps you need to take to achieve it
– review your goals weekly, keeping yourself accountable
I know how hard it can be to find the time to do this when you’re running a business, but it’s worth taking half a day every quarter to really focus and get aligned with your goals (it saves you time and energy in the long run!)
I hope you found this out useful. If you know anyone else who may benefit from these tips, please share!
If you want further help with goal setting, or working out a strategy for your business, get in touch.