How to Map Out Your Goals for 2024
We’ve all heard of “Christmas in July,” but have you ever heard of “Mid-Year Resolutions?” That’s right – the summer months are a great time to revisit those goals you set in January or to make entirely new ones if you missed the boat.
In fact, goal setting can often be more strategic and inspiring halfway through the year because you have the entire first half to look back and reflect on, without the stress and bustle of major holidays.
For wherever you are in your business journey, mapping out personal and business goals is crucial for success. Read on to learn how to plot goals and get ready to boost your business when your next planning session comes around, whether that be this month or next New Year’s Eve.
What are Business Goals?
According to indeed career guide , “business goals” are “goals that a business anticipates accomplishing in a set period of time.” Setting business goals is essential for the success and functioning of your business because they provide a way to measure growth and success, help you and your employees know what steps to take on the job, and inspire everyone who works with you to pursue a shared vision.
Types of business goals include short-term, long-term, process, outcome, and profit. Some business owners break down bigger business goals into business objectives or micro goals: clearly defined measurable steps that help a company reach its broader goals. For example, a business owner may set a goal to make $10,000 within the next three months and determine to get there by developing a business objective of onboarding ten new clients weekly.
Without goals and objectives, a business will likely flounder or chase aimlessly after initiatives that won’t help build the business long-term.
How to Find Your Goals
How can you know which goals you should set for your business? Take some time to think through what you want to achieve and determine the steps you’ll need to take to get there. Perhaps you want to raise sales, set up a new system, hire new employees, or open a second office. Where would you like your business to be in the next month, three months, or year? The sky’s the limit when it comes to goals, so dream big!
You do want to ensure you avoid setting too many goals or goals that are too vague or easy. Such goals either won’t get done or won’t be appreciated when they do. Reasonable goals are clear and challenging enough to accomplish with some grit, and they usually lead to satisfaction upon completion.
Lastly, when determining your goals, avoid the snare of comparison. Depending on your industry, there may be examples or expectations of the goals you should set. Don’t go after a goal just because others you know are chasing it; make sure your goals reflect your desires and wants for your business.
How to Map Out Your Goals
Once you have your goals, you’ll need a way to make sure they happen. The process of setting things down this “way” is called “goal mapping.” Below is a timeline that will take you through all the steps of a goal mapping journey:
Plan a time in your calendar to consider or revisit your goals. When that time arrives, write down 1-5 goals you want to aim for.
For each goal, write down the endpoint and work backward. Make a detailed list of the steps you need to follow to reach your goal (each of these steps is now a micro-goal or objective).
List each micro-goal or objective, and outline the steps needed to accomplish them. Ideally, the steps should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.
Delegate or block time to accomplish the steps needed to achieve each micro-goal in time for the final goal (note any deadlines).
After your goals are mapped, all you have to do is execute the steps and watch your dreams turn into reality.
How Often to Create Goals for Your Business
Although goals can be made at any time, business owners often prefer to spend focused time assessing goals at intervals throughout the year. The most common durations are daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually.
If your goal includes a time calendar (such as the fiscal year or school year), you’ll want to plan for that goal before the start of the timeframe in which it occurs.
It’s also good to revisit goals regularly to track your progress.
Goal Setting Tools
Even goal mapping has specific tools for the trade. When you sit down for your planning session, bring your dreams and creativity! These things will keep you inspired and on track. You’ll also want to bring some means for capturing your plans, whether traditional (paper, pens, and a physical calendar) or digital (Apps, Google Calendar, or a planning service like HoneyBook). These means are essential for planning out when the work will get done. One perk of digital planning tools is that they often generate a visual that allows you to easily see where the action steps for multiple projects line up or overlap.
Another great goal-setting tool is to recruit a friend or colleague to be your accountability partner or to hire a business coach. Bringing a knowledgeable buddy on your journey will give you access to insights and help you stay on track.
Avoiding Goal Sabotage
While any plan can go awry, there are specific sabotages to goal mapping. It is one thing to fail to reach a goal due to an uncontrollable logistical or environmental error, but many of our pitfalls are internal. These include perfectionism, fear, and self-doubt. Part of the job of a business owner is to be a visionary – to see what others can’t see, and to take risks to get there. Rally your courage, and don’t be afraid to take your team into the unknown; if they can’t see where you’re going at first, they eventually will!
At the same time, talking to a trusted associate or business coach can help ensure your goals are helpful, realistic, and flexible. Goals that are too rigid or unsustainable will create stress and discouragement. Businessnewsdaily outlines the importance of “achievable business goals” for success and suggests that existing businesses look at past records and experiences to guide their goal setting. Without such a legacy, startups will naturally need more guesswork.
When mapping out your goals for 2023, don’t forget to give yourself some milestones and rewards. Life is short and should be fun, even when working toward your goals.
So, what are you waiting for? Ask yourself, “What does my business need?” and “What do I need to get there?” Give yourself an edge by taking time to revisit and map out your goals through the end of the year.
WRITTEN BY: KATIE BARNETT
