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How to set 2022 business goals in four simple steps

 

BY ASHLEY OLAFSEN
ENTREPRENEUR SUCCESS MANAGER

 

As a founder, you’re in the business of turning a dream into reality. If you’re going to achieve your big dreams in 2022, you’ll definitely need well articulated goals that set you up for success! Here are a few tips to get you started.

Step one: Visualize your big dreams, and then break them down. 

The IFundWomen Method Playbook has a Goal Planner section where you can map out your goals, and then break them down. This goal setting format will truly set you up for success! To access it, ​​go here and click "File" > "Make a copy" to get your very own, editable playbook, and navigate to the tab called “Goal Planner”

Once you’re in your Goal Planner, first identify your “big dream” goal. Then, think about all of the individual steps needed to accomplish that “big dream” goal. Those individual steps become your action items. For example, if your goal is to launch a podcast, consider: 

  • What does that actually entail? 
  • Do you have to prepare an outline? 
  • Do you have to buy recording equipment? 
  • Do you have to block off a day to record? 

Make a list of every single thing you need to do, and consider each of these a task. Now, you’re one step closer to completing your “big dream” goal—congratulations!

Step two: Be realistic, not ambitious. 

I always encourage entrepreneurs to set goals that they have a good chance of accomplishing. If you set goals that are too complicated, too ambitious, or otherwise too unrealistic, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Here’s the thing: if you fail to accomplish your goals, chances are you’ll feel discouraged, and then you might give up on other goals on your list. Then, you’ll start to start to feel shame creeping in and it’s game over. 

The solution? Set SMART goals. SMART is a system of criteria that ensures the goals you are setting can be achieved. Each goal that you set for yourself needs to account for each of these criteria:

  • Specific: How can you be more specific when defining the goal?
  • Measurable: How are you going to measure if this goal is successful? Is it by revenue amount, number of customers, etc?
  • Achievable: How achievable is this goal? Think about the ways in which you would achieve this goal. If you can’t, you may want to break your goal down into smaller segments. 
  • Relevant: Why are you picking this goal? How is it relevant to your overarching business goals?
  • Timebound: When is the deadline for this goal to be completed? 

Step three: Give yourself easy wins.

I love setting excessively simple goals that I’ll achieve easily. Why? It feels good to cross something off the checklist! More importantly, it builds momentum and you can use that momentum to carry you through the larger, more challenging goals. 

Give yourself easy wins that motivate you to keep going!

Step four: Focus on the methods that work for YOU.

At the end of the day, set yourself up for success with goals that are going to work for YOU! There’s no right or wrong way to set goals, so focus on what is going to make you the most effective. If you map out your life in an agenda, map out your goals in an agenda. If you map out your life on Google Calendar, timeblock time to accomplish your goals.

Our expert Startup Coaches are ready to help you goalset like a pro so you can crush it in 2022. Ready to work 1:1 with one of our coaches? Sign up for IFundWomen Coaching and schedule your first Goal Setting session.

 

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How to set 2022 business goals in five simple steps