The way we set goals is often flawed, and it’s not just a personal issue but a systemic one. For example, 92 percent of people fail to achieve their New Year’s resolutions, according to The Times Tribune. This indicates a broader problem with how we approach goal-setting. To address this, it’s crucial to first understand the root of the issue. Recognizing and acknowledging the problem with our current methods is the first step toward finding effective solutions.
The Problem
The issue with goal-setting isn’t necessarily about being too ambitious or not ambitious enough; it lies in how we frame our goals from the outset.
Consider a common personal goal, such as “I want to lose weight,” which, according to Parade.com, is a typical aspiration. While it’s a valid desire to improve physical appearance, a more specific goal like “I want to lose 10 pounds” seems better.
Similarly, in a business context, aiming for a “40 percent increase in sales by the end of the year” appears to be a clear and specific goal. However, both this and the personal weight-loss goal share a fundamental issue: they are output goals. We cannot directly control them because they are outcomes rather than processes.
The Solution
To set goals that are more attainable and easier to track, focus on input goals rather than output goals.
An input goal is something you can directly control and measure, which makes it easier to achieve and monitor progress.
Take the example of “I want to lose 10 pounds.” Without clear actions, it’s difficult to gauge how much you’ll achieve. You might follow an excellent workout and diet plan, feel healthier, and improve your fitness, but if you only lose 8 pounds, you might feel like you’ve failed, even though you’ve made significant progress.
Instead, an effective input goal would be “I want to exercise for 30 minutes every day and eat vegetables with two meals per day.” These are specific, actionable steps you can control, and they’ll likely lead to better health and weight loss.
Similarly, for business goals like “I want to increase sales by 40 percent,” you should focus on controllable actions. Rather than setting a target that you can’t directly influence, concentrate on activities within your control. For example, set goals such as requesting 70 percent of your customers to leave a Google review or reaching out to 40 new potential clients each week. These actions, while they may not guarantee a specific percentage increase, will drive your progress and help you achieve better results.
In summary, prioritize setting input goals that focus on the actions you can take, rather than output goals that are based on the outcomes you cannot fully control. This approach helps build effective habits and ensures you’re making progress towards your desired results.
Once your business starts working towards its goals, use our invoice generator to set up a payment link and begin receiving payments!
