With competition fierce and the economy down, a gal needs
an edge to stay ahead of the pack! Want to know how to get one?
Here is a secret utilized by all the millionaire moms I’ve interviewed.
Are you ready? It’s the power of focus. If you can master that, you
will be delighted by the results!
To create the best and most rewarding year ever in business, figure
out where and on what to focus your efforts. This is accomplished by
creating a vision and then setting goals. In that order, because before
you can define your goals, you need to step back and consider the big
picture. Start by designing your ideal life. If all your dreams came true,
what would that look like? Feel like? Sound like? Use all of your senses
to imagine it in as much detail as possible. Create an exciting vision of
your future and then write it down.
Farah Perelmuter, founder and CEO of an ultra-successful
Canadian speaker’s bureau, told me, “Starting in my teenage years I
visualized exactly how my office would look. I would have a view of
the CN Tower. I would have a private elevator that opened into my
office. My desk would be glass. Today, that is exactly what I have.
The office I dreamed of as a young girl.”
It may feel unnatural to write your vision in such detail, but
as Farah’s story shows, it works! So try it. If you’re having trouble
getting started, flip through a few magazines for inspiration and clip
out pictures that represent the things/lifestyle you want. Then, as a
constant reminder and to help you stay focused, tape the clippings
onto a poster board and put it in a spot you look at every day.
Once you have a clear idea of your vision, start putting your
goals in writing. It will be easier if you “chunk” it into bite-sized pieces.
Don’t edit yourself; just jot down whatever comes to mind and let
your dream vision guide you. If you can’t finish the list in one sitting,
take your time and spread out the task over several days. That’s what
I did when I decided to start my first business. I had no idea what I
even wanted to do, so every day for ten days I wrote down a list of ten
ideas off the top of my head until I hit upon the right one. Two years
later I was the co-founder and major shareholder of a publicly-traded
company that was generating revenues of $50 million a year. |
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| If you’re serious about making a change in your life, then do what successful
people do and make a plan. To help yourself keep on target, here’s a
checklist of questions to ask yourself as you formulate your goals: |
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Are these goals really my own? Don’t come up with goals that
are based on what you think you should do, or what someone
else wants you to do. |
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Are these goals meaningful to me? In setting goals, you’re
charting a journey that will inevitably have obstacles. Ask yourself
if the goal is worthy of your total commitment. If it’s truly exciting,
the odds are much better that you will stick with it. Another way
to size it up is to ask yourself, “What am I willing to give up to
pursue this goal?” |
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Are my goals specific and measurable? The statement “I want
to make more money” is not a tangible business goal. “I want to
make an additional $10,000 before March 31, 2009 by acquiring
three new customers,” on the other hand, is. See the difference? |
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Are my goals flexible? If a great opportunity comes along that
doesn’t fit in with your current goals, don’t be so rigid you ignore it. |
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Are my goals in alignment with my values? Be sure they include
both giving and receiving. |
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How will my goals be supported? Share your goals with only
those people in your life who are truly supportive. You don’t need
anyone dampening your drive and energy with their negativity. |
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| By using these guidelines to arrive at your goals, you will be amazed at
the results and soon hooked on the process. |
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| TIP: Print up your top-priority goals and place them in a frame on your desk/
work space. It will serve as a gentle reminder to stay focused on the activities
that lead to your goals. Remember these words: Whatever you focus on
expands, and that which you ignore recedes. Make it the best year ever! |
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