| Goal setting is crucial to the success of any | | | | If the task seems too daunting with a five-year |
| business, but is particularly important for | | | | plan, establish 90-day goals. Limit goals to three |
| entrepreneurs in the bookkeeping service business | | | | specific things that you want to accomplish. Write |
| who are distracted with multiple priorities. Goals | | | | out each goal and put a due date next to it. Then |
| direct actions, give us something to aim for, and | | | | write out each step that needs to be taken, by |
| serve as a yardstick for measuring our | | | | when, and what type of support you need to |
| bookkeeping business's success. | | | | accomplish that goal. Then schedule in your |
| Goal setting is crucial to the success of any | | | | calendar time to honor the commitment you just |
| business, but is particularly important for | | | | made to yourself. |
| entrepreneurs in the bookkeeping service business | | | | Bookkeeping BusinessSecret #2: Be Relevant |
| who can become distracted with multiple priorities. | | | | Goals should help you attain a specific aim. |
| Goal setting allows us to be proactive, instead of | | | | Beware of goals that keep you busy but do not |
| just being reactive. We've all had days where we | | | | contribute directly to the overall goal you have |
| leap from one crisis to another, but we know | | | | set for yourself and the success of your |
| that's not a preferred mode of operation for our | | | | bookkeeping business. If you don't believe your |
| bookkeeping services! Goals direct actions, give us | | | | goals are worthwhile, you won't make the |
| something to aim for, and serve as a yardstick | | | | necessary effort to achieve them. For example, |
| for measuring our bookkeeping business's success. | | | | several years ago I wanted to work a four-day |
| When setting business goals, I use a successful | | | | work week. I set the goal, but did not really |
| goal-setting formula that a business coachmentor | | | | believe that I could or should work only four days |
| taught me. The formula incorporates a strategy | | | | a week. Guess what? It never happened because |
| or strategies for accomplishing the goal: "I will (goal | | | | I was not truly aligned with the goal. |
| + performance measure) by (specific actions)." | | | | Bookkeeping BusinessSecret #3: Review Your |
| For example, suppose that you want to increase | | | | Goals Constantly |
| revenue. First specify the goal: "I will increase | | | | Review your goals daily. Keep them in plain view - |
| revenue this month by twenty-five percent. | | | | by your desk or next to your computer. Goals |
| Setting a specific goal builds in the criteria you will | | | | are not something that you write down and file in |
| use to evaluate your success. | | | | a drawer. The more you embody your goals, the |
| In this case, at the end of the month, you'll either | | | | more real they become and the more aware you |
| have increased sales by twenty-five percent | | | | are of opportunities that cross your path to help |
| compared to the previous month or not. Then, | | | | you achieve those goals. |
| specify the strategy that you will use to work | | | | I write my goals on colorful 4x6 index cards and |
| towards accomplishing the goal: "I will increase | | | | keep them by my bedside. I read them first thing |
| sales this month by twenty-five percent by | | | | each morning and then again before I go to sleep |
| offering a ten-percent-off sale on all inventory and | | | | at night. This keeps me focused and moving |
| advertising this sale in the local newspapers." | | | | toward my goals. |
| This makes evaluating your success or failure | | | | Bookkeeping BusinessSecret #4: Stay on Track |
| easy because your goal is specific rather than | | | | Once you establish clear goals you will begin to |
| general. Suddenly, instead of just having a goal | | | | notice that opportunities begin to present |
| that you may or may not achieve, you have a | | | | themselves. When this happens, I ask myself a |
| specific plan to follow to achieve the goal you | | | | very important question which helps me to decide |
| have set. | | | | whether I should look further into the opportunity |
| If you avoid setting goals, here are a few | | | | or let it go - "Does this opportunity bring me |
| bookkeeping business secrets for goal-setting | | | | closer to my goal or further away from it?" |
| success: | | | | By asking yourself this simple question, |
| Bookkeeping BusinessSecret #1: Have | | | | you’ll be able to take decisive action |
| Short-Term and Long-Term Goals | | | | towards accomplishing your goals. For example, a |
| The first thing I do when setting goals is to | | | | lovely salesperson from ADP has been calling me |
| consider where I would like to be five years from | | | | to schedule a meeting to show me their services |
| now. Once I have determined my long-term goal | | | | and how they have changed. By asking myself, |
| or ideal scene, I work backwards by breaking this | | | | "Does this opportunity bring me closer to my goal |
| ideal scene down into short-term goals and | | | | or further away from it? I have no problem |
| specifying milestones that need to be achieved | | | | deciding whether or not I should schedule the |
| along the way. | | | | meeting. |