Business Tips, Entrepreneur Advice

How To Create Actionable Goals

How To Create Actionable Goals | So you can finally get shit done in your business!

As business owners, we know that we can’t run a business without a plan. No plan means no way of tracking progress. This can lead to poor decisions, (or rash decisions when in fight or flight mode because you think you’re falling behind) and putting your business on a standstill. You can find yourself making no progress and no way of knowing what you should be doing.

The entrepreneur rat race

Ever heard of the ‘Rat Race’? Well, an entrepreneur’s rat race can look like this:
The month starts>Make Sales>Pay Bills>Worry about making more sales>Personal Expenses>Repeat.

You can be stuck in that race for a very long time. Struggling to make enough sales to keep the business and your life running or being very busy working in your business and not on it.

Doing this distracts you from any major goals you’re trying to achieve, then suddenly you’re two years down the line (or more) and the most you can tell people is that you’ve been running this business for x years but what do you have to show? What did you achieve besides keeping yourself afloat?

Why should you start creating actionable goals?

Creating actionable goals can turn you from being lost to finally having direction and knowing what you’re going to do with your business. An action plan is a step by step method of getting things done. In short, it simplifies your goals and makes them attainable.

How do you go about creating an action plan? Keep reading, I go through the steps I take to create action plans for not only my business but for my clients as well

Here are my 5 steps to finally getting shit done!

1. Think about your end goal.

This sounds simple I know but have you actually stepped back and thought about your end goal? Before you get into planning actionable goals ask yourself; How do you define success as a business owner? Why are you working so hard? (besides to get paid) What inspired you to start in the first place? Get a notebook and start writing your dreams out. You’re not too old or too late for anything, it’s the perfect time to start. The best time is now so write down your perfect end goal.

2. Decide your milestones.

Now that you’ve written your end goal it may seem pretty big (and very intimidating) but don’t worry the next step is now to break this goal up into milestones.

Milestones are a perfect way to track your progress in the long term and to keep you motivated. There’s nothing better than reviewing your goals at the end of a month and realize that you actually accomplished a big step in your path to what you defined as success.

Your path to practical actionable goals!

To figure out what your milestones are, ask yourself what you would need to accomplish to get you closer to that big goal of yours. Your answers would be very specific to you and the number of milestones depends on how big this goal actually is. Remember to be realistic and leave room for change or adjustment. Your action plan is meant to inspire you and keep you on track not to stress you out more.

TIP: Be realistic with your progress milestones. Break them up to as many sections as you need to. Don’t be overwhelmed or feel bad if you require more steps.
Action plans are all about breaking huge tasks down so it’s easier to track and follow. Accomplishing each milestone will boost your confidence in your business AND your self-esteem.

3. Create smaller goals.

Between your milestones and your final goal, there will be many things you’ll need to get done. These tasks or goals aren’t as big to classify them as milestones but they are necessary. Here’s when you start thinking about these.

Look at each milestone and write out what you’ll need to do or what has to happen for these to become a reality. As you’re doing this your path starts to get clearer. Suddenly your big goal doesn’t seem as distant. You’ve clearly mapped out your path to success.

Now if you’re anything like me this gets you excited but even more nervous. Mapping out your path to success means you no longer can use the excuse you don’t know where to start. You know where to start but can you actually do it? Here’s where accountability and discipline come in.

4. Set deadlines!

When you’re done writing your action plan it is great to write broad deadlines for when you’d expect certain goals to be accomplished. This can keep you on your toes month to month as you run your business or even when you’re planning your month out.

As you reference your action plan you can easily track if things are going as planned or if things need to be adjusted. It’s important to be realistic with deadlines, real-world issues are bound to happen at some point that might push back your plans. It’s okay and normal.

Don’t be hard on yourself to have your timeline go perfectly. The important part is that you’re actively doing the things that will lead you to your goals. You’re actively doing the things that will get you results which is better than trying to accomplish a goal blindly.

5. Track your progress! Celebrate your small wins!

My final step would be to track your progress!

I do this in the form of referencing my plans on a monthly basis, both at the beginning of the month when I’m planning everything out for the new month and reflecting from the past month and then mid-month to make sure I’m doing what I planned to do.

Sometimes the entrepreneur rat race can get us distracted. But if you planned to accomplish certain tasks that will propel your business forward that month you will try your best to get it done. Espically when your mid month check in happens and you find you haven’t even started yet. It’ll light a fire under you to get it done.

As you slowly get through your milestones you’ll find that your business is a lot more organised and fulfilling. When you start reaping the benefits that your goals bring you’d wonder to yourself what took you so long to start doing.

Get one on one help

Are you still confused as to how an action plan can help you? Or maybe you need custom support as you create your new plan and actually sticking to it. I offer one on one consultations where you can pick my brain and I can help you focus and start on your action plan.

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