In the last several weeks, the weekly question and action has covered business plateaus as well as those virtual brick walls. Both of these can stop you and your business dead in your tracks – whether you are just starting a business or have a little experience under your belt. One great way to minimize the odds of business plateaus and virtual brick walls from rearing their ugly little heads is to set business goals that motivate and inspire you.
SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timebound) business goals aren’t always the most motivating for women entrepreneurs. DUMB goals on the other hand – those can light you on fire! A DUMB goal is one that is…
- Date driven (or deadline driven)
- Unambiguous
- Motivating
- Brilliantly unique
These goals aren’t nearly as likely to happen (which is what makes them motivating), so you work smarter and more creatively to make them happen. They are so uniquely you that you don’t feel like one of the crowd – or that you are being compared to anyone. Does that rock or what? (Yea – that is so not the question for the week!)
Question: Do you have SMART goals or DUMB ones?
Action: Transform your top three business goals into DUMB goals that are in line with your business vision and mission using these two easy steps:
- Review your top 3 goals and make sure they tie back to the vision and mission. This might seem odd but you’d be surprised how many times these things get out of synch for women entrepreneurs. Somewhere between the high-level strategic thinking and the nitty-gritty goals, something gets lost in translation. Make sure that isn’t happening for you as you are starting a business.
- Review the DUMB criteria and then look at your business goals. Do your top three goals all have the DUMB factor? Or are they all 100% attainable? My rule of thumb is for my goals to have about a 50% chance of being met. That’s enough to make me want to move – but not so much that I don’t get creative about making it happen. If a goal is 100% attainable, why do anything new or different – you are going to hit your target anyway. If it is 90% unattainable, why bother trying? Strike a balance that works for you – even if it takes some trial and error.
Goal setting can be a little bit of an art – and maybe even a lost art. You may find all new business muscles being used as you walk through this exercise. That’s OK! This could be a whole new workout for you, but the results will totally be worth it. Shout out how you are doing with this shift in routine in the comments below.
P.S. – Not sure what your vision and mission are – let alone how to design your DUMB goals? Sign up for a complimentary recording of the Brilliant Business Basics call here and get instant access that will help you with the difference betwen vision, mission and goals – and how each one is critical to your business success.
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