Happy New Year!
It is January 1 and everyone has just set their goals for the new year. While I don’t think January 1 is all that significant from a personal perspective (winners set goals all year round), the day is symbolic of a a fresh start and a convenient time to set what you will accomplish in the year ahead. It is also the beginning of a new quarter and for many of us a new fiscal year.
Regardless of when you decide to set your goals, the key thing is that you make them in the first place. I am a devout believer that you accomplish what you set out to achieve. At Peak, for instance, we have an uncanny knack for consistently hitting our sales targets, which gives us courage to set increasingly aggressive goals, which we inevitably hit, which in turn causes us to set even more outrageous goals. The cycle feeds off itself. Sometimes it seems we hit our goals because we said we would and we do everything in our power to make it so. Other times, it seems we manufacture good luck and events fall into place. I think a lot of it has to do with with focus and manifesting results. Whatever the science behind it, the whole concept of making goals is a very important part of our success.
Here are my 7 rules to making goals:
- Dream big (since you are far more likely to achieve things you put on your list, why not put great things on your list – If You Think You Can, You Can!
- Make short and long term goals (ie. one year to five years or beyond if you can dream that far ahead)
- Make them measurable (ie. “become more wealthy” is less measurable than “achieve net worth of $100M”)
- Make goals across a range of business and life categories such as Family, Financial, Business, Health, Hobbies, etc. so that you live a rich and balanced life
- Visualize what it will be like when you achieve the goals
- Don’t worry if you don’t know how you will get there – have faith, it will come to you in time
- “Show up” each and every day and check progress against your goals regularly so you are actively thinking about them and what you might do to move ahead
May you have a prosperous 2008!
Eliot.
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Eliot Burdett
Eliot received his B. Comm. from Carleton University and has been honored as a Top 40 Under 40 Award winner.
He co-authored Sales Recruiting 2.0, How to Find Top Performing Sales People, Fast and provides regular insights on sales team management and hiring on the Peak Sales Recruiting Blog.
Latest posts by Eliot Burdett (see all)
- 20 Of Our Favorite Books About Sales Management and Sales Leadership – October 20, 2023
- How To Make Progress On Your Sales Goal Without A Sales Leader – September 15, 2021
- Augment Your Recruiting Strategy During “The Great Resignation” – July 26, 2021
which presents the mindset and tactics used by very successful sales people. There are no old school tricks, just simple things that will help you develop rapport with your prospect, learn about their business and then help you close more deals. The book covers
everything from how to dress to what language works well in certain prospecting situations. Also covers several of the most popular closing techniques. A very worthwhile read.