I am a goal setter for sure and make extensive use of calendars and task organisation software for scheduling client work so I’m pretty organised there.  But last week I watched Marie Forleo talking about how she plans her week and I realised there was room for improvement.  My business goals have always been a list of things I review when I get down-time in-between client work.  You know, at the end of the quarter, the calendar year or the financial year.  But at these times I am looking back and can’t change the result!  Looking back is not as useful as being in the now and thinking forward.  I actually do believe in the power of setting goals and trusting this to unconsciously steer you towards them (yeah I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo early in life!).  It does work but… if you’ve got a lofty vision, you’ll need to plan, in detail, and ‘check-in’ on a daily basis.  Otherwise, you might find it’s a really slow path to success.

Why?  Let me explain.

When you plan, it forces you to break things down into tasks and think about the time it actually takes to do these things. There’s really only so much we can achieve in a week so if you have a big list of general goals you’re unlikely to tick things off each week so you won’t get that feeling of moving forward.   It feels really good to look back at a well planned week and see what you’ve achieved.  In fact it’s a well researched aspect of human happiness. I think half the time we have the big plans but not the detail that’s needed.  And it’s the detail which holds accountable and moves us forward.  Detail provides tasks for action and action turns dreams into reality.

The way I start this process is often just with pen and paper but I always end up in Xmind creating a mind map as I find it’s super simple and quick.  Once you have your lofty goals sorted,  take some time to break it down.  Which task is key to your next step for your business?  That’s the one to focus on for now.   What’s the first task for that?  Write it up as your goal this week.

Have a good week.

I’m addicted to business books, podcasts and vlogs.  I’m constantly reading, watching, listening to others.  I’m starting to ask myself why I am constantly doing this because sometimes it’s a distraction from the things I SHOULD be doing.  Well, it’s OK.  I find it entertaining, so there’s that aspect.  Business.  It’s a topic I love and there is something to be said for just exposing yourself to new ideas.  But, if you don’t actually do anything with the information it’s just entertainment, am I right?

Last week I listened to some Gary Vaynerchuck (via Instagram) and he was talking about this very topic.  If you haven’t heard of Gary V check out his content.  I think of him as the “fight club” for business motivation.  He says every day he’s just repeating the same message in a million different ways.  But he believes that’s what people need.  Today might be the right time, the right place, the right frame of mind that means his message actually sinks in and causes somebody to take action.

And that action is what makes the difference. We know it.

So, yes.  Read widely, research, expose yourself to new ideas and look for those gems of experience in what others share.  But, at the end of the day remember that if you don’t reflect on their wisdom then measure it for value against your own situation and take action –  it’s might just be procrastination.

I’m starting my week with action by incorporating reflection into my business process.

Check out Gary Vaynerchuck too.