Business Goals - How You Set Them Makes All The Difference

We all know that having goals is important. But how you set them can make up to a 300% difference, according to one study at Yale. Use these simple steps to boost your goal setting instantly...

When setting your business goals for the week, month, or year, it's worthwhile to follow a particular format that many great minds have written about over the years. First of all, they must be written down. A goal that is in your head is nothing more than an idea. Writing it will crystallize the goal and make you far more likely to accomplish it. All written business goals should be in the present tense, positive, and personal. As you write them and repeat them to yourself, your subconscious mind will begin to believe it, and they will become true.

1. Present The subconscious mind can only understand the present moment in time. So instead of saying "I'm going to start a business" or "I will start a business" a present tense business goal would be "I am starting a business".

2. Positive You should always reaffirm positive beliefs about yourself. Instead of saying "I don't make bad investments" write "I make good investments with a high rate of return".

3. Personal You can't change others, but you can change yourself. Instead of writing "My boss will transform into a nicer person" try "I will perform better at work and get along with my boss".

Each time you write your business goals, take a minute to evaluate them. Was that a positive belief about myself that I just wrote? Am I trying to change something outside my control or am I focusing on myself? Am I talking about the future here or did I phrase it in the present tense?

Business goals that starts off as "I will try to...." are doomed from the start. In fact, I cringe every time I hear someone say "I should really get to the gym more often" or "I'm trying to start a company right now". The very act of writing "try" or "should" indicates a lack of commitment and a high probability of failure. Either you are starting a company right now, or you probably never will.

Good business goals have two other properties; they are measurable and have a deadline. This is where many people drop the ball, even big time company CEO's! Writing a goal that isn't measurable has one major problem: you can't tell whether you've reached it or not. Finally, you must have a deadline to create a sense of urgency. Without a deadline you may complete your goal, but it won't be nearly as soon as you'd like.

1. Measurable Instead of writing "This year I earn more money" try "This year I earn $100,000". If your goal isn't measurable then you won't be able to determine if you achieved it or how close you are.

2. Deadline Instead of "I sell 1000 widgets" try "I sell 1000 widgets by June 1st this year". This provides a sense of urgency and a time line to follow.

Finally, all business goals must be written down. A goal in your head is not a goal at all. It is merely an idea. One study conducted on Yale graduates over a period of more than ten years showed that those who WROTE their business goals were earning ten times as much money as those who merely had goals in their head. Good luck with your goals setting, and demonstrate your commitment to them RIGHT NOW by putting them on paper!

About the author: Brian Armstrong makes it easy to learn the secrets of todays top business owners. To discover the "7 Essential Steps to Starting a Business" in his Free Online Course, visit this site now: Business Goals