One major key to success, both in business and in life, is to define clear, specific goals for yourself. One tip for success that’s so common it’s almost become a cliché is to put your goals in writing. You probably did that when you first started your business. But here’s a question: where’s that piece of paper now, with those goals written on it? When was the last time you looked at it?
Writing down your goals is essential. If you can’t express them to yourself in a detailed, concrete manner, how can you expect to express them to anyone else? It helps you visualize and actualize them better. But writing them down is only the first step.
If you put your goals away in a drawer, it’s easy to lose sight of them. No matter how driven you are, everyone has off days, when everything seems impossible and you wonder why you’re even bothering. Everyone has periods where work gets to be a daily routine, rather than a lifetime quest, and the memory of what you’re trying to accomplish seems like a far away dream.
Your goals need to be an active part of your daily life. They’re not just far off pipe dreams; they’re the things that inspire you every day. That’s why visualizing your goals isn’t just about putting them in writing, but putting your goals in writing where you can see them every day.
Hang your list of goals on the wall in your home, or in your office. Or both. Maybe laminate it, or even have it framed. You could hang them in a place where they’ll be the first thing you see when you wake up, a daily reminder of why you get out of bed in the morning. You could even cut them up and post individual goals in different, strategic places all over the house. Put one in the bathroom, another by the coffee pot… wherever you could use a nice reminder of what you’re working towards.
It’s also important not to write down just your long term ones. Goals are only achieved one step at a time, after all, and even staring your lifelong dream in the face every day can sometimes elicit a baffled “But how?” So every day before you start work, write down your set of goals for that day and how they serve to help you accomplish your ultimate lifetime goals. Write down your goals for the week, for the month, for the year… and keep them all close by.
Everyone needs a little reminder sometimes. Keeping your goals where you can see them every day can give you that extra encouragement when you need it most.
