SCAGoalSetting.pdf

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THE STRATEGIC COACH APPROACH to

P P Goal I H S g R n n i Setting W N E w a r d d e e r O d E e M s K R u A O c F T r e o o f S N e P P I A u u R H t T u u S f g e R n n z z i i l E d d a r N a u s s w i W e e v r O d E e M s K R u A O c F T r e o o f S P P N I e A H u u R t S T u g f u R e n n i z z E i d d l r N a a u w W s s i e e r v O d E e M s K R u A O c F T r e o o S f S N R e A E u u R t N T u u f e W z z i l O

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Goal-Setting Successful entrepreneurs are always guided by a vision of their future. Only entrepreneurs have the freedom to create this future in their own way to mesh with their passion, their beliefs, and their values. To keep them on course, they set goals and, in the end, realize their overarching vision. In this guide, we share ten tips that entrepreneurs in the Strategic Coach® Program use when setting the goals in their business and life that will fulfill their future vision. Give them a try when you’re setting your own goals. They’ll start you off on the right foot and give you the best possible chance to move forward, get some momentum going, and achieve your goal. Then, press “repeat” to tackle other important goals that will get you to the bigger and better future you imagined.

Our top 10 tips for setting and achieving your “bigger future” goals: 1. Write your goals down. Studies show that goal-setters achieve their goals. Goal-setters who write down their goals are even more likely to have success getting to where they want to be. There’s a brain-to-hand connection that comes into play—and, no, the digital route doesn’t achieve the same effect! Writing your goals down plants the goal in your brain, and once it’s there, it sticks. Even if you’re not consciously aware of the goal on a daily basis, your brain is looking for the opportunity to work on it. Dan Sullivan, founder and creator of Strategic Coach® and the Strategic Coach Program, says, “Your eyes only see and your ears only hear what your brain is looking for.” You’ve probably experienced this already in your life.

2. Make yourself accountable.

“Your future is your property. If you don’t take ownership of it, others will be happy to do it for you.”

From our experience over years of working with successful entrepreneurs to achieve their loftiest goals, we’ve seen that sharing your goals with others—peers, family, friends, your team—provides an additional incentive and push to “do what you say.” It makes you accountable.

Dan Sullivan Think about a commitment you’ve made in the past. The moment you tell your colleague that you’re going to push for getting ten sales in the upcoming month,

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TM & © 2016. The Strategic Coach Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form, or by any means whatsoever, without written permission from Strategic Coach ®. Made in Canada. January 2015. SStrategic Coach® and Strategic Coach® Program are trademarks of The Strategic Coach Inc. If you would like further information about the Strategic Coach ® Program or other Strategic Coach ® services and products, please telephone 416.531.7399 or 1.800.387.3206. Fax: 416.531.1135. Email: [email protected].

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Goal-Setting

for example, doesn’t that give you added incentive to make it happen? You’ll come up with new ideas and strategies, and, chances are, you’ll achieve your goal because you’ve put it out there to someone you trust and respect.

This goal-setting process is the framework for creating the kind of future you envision for yourself — independent of what others want you to do or are doing themselves. These goals are the foundation of your autonomy and freedom, because they are yours, defined by you.

3. Visualize a new reality in Technicolor.

5. Set a realistic time frame.

All goal-setting starts with your seeing something in the future that doesn’t currently exist. Most successful entrepreneurs see a new and better future more vividly than most.

It’s been said for years that there’s no such thing as an unrealistic goal, only an unrealistic deadline. Once you have a clear vision and have filled in the details, your mind needs a deadline to take it seriously.

Visualize your future in as much detail as your imagination allows—what it looks like, what it feels like, the conditions that will define it as a success, and everything you want to be true when you make that vision a reality.

As Dan Sullivan says, “A goal without a deadline is just a slogan.” When you set your deadline, make sure it’s challenging and exciting, but also achievable. As you decide on your deadline, consider all the events going on in your life and business, as you’ll have many goals in play simultaneously.

Keep in mind that the more details you specify, the more your mind takes ownership over the result. Include measurable results so you’ll know when your goal has been achieved.

4. Choose your words carefully as you write them down. A goal helps you set a direction for your efforts. Goals are about articulating your desires and telling yourself where you’re headed. It’s important to use the right words to specify what you want as you write them down.

6. Watch for “strategic by-products.” These are the surprises, the unexpected things that happen off to the side, on the way to achieving a specific goal. All you need to do is develop the ability to notice them. Sometimes these by-products turn out to be even more important than the original goal. But if you hadn’t set the original goal and put things in motion, nothing would have happened as a result. When you set goals, one thing leads to another, which leads to another.

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Goal-Setting

7. Take ownership of your future.

10. Set goals in all areas of your life.

Your future is your property. If you don’t take ownership of it, others will be happy to do it for you. Goal-setting helps you take increased ownership of your future and your past. As a result, you have control of your present. This will give you ownership of your entire life, regardless of the circumstances that surround you. You can custom-design your future to your own specifications, desires, and ambitions. As a result, you’ll have greater freedom in every area of your life.

Your life has many different dimensions. Goals are the fuel for growth in all of these areas—personal health and fitness, relationships, business growth, personal finances, and teamwork are just a few.

8. See goal-setting as a never-ending learning process. Goal-setting is not an end result. Each goal you set will teach you something new, better, different, or important. This learning will be incredibly enjoyable. The more numerous and powerful your goals are, the greater and faster your learning. Your progress toward your goals will allow you to transform yourself continually as a person, to transform your relationships, and to transform the quality of your entire life.

9. Be part of a community of future-focused learners. Surround yourself with the best people possible to talk about important things, set inspiring goals, share strategies, and lend support. You’ll be challenged and stretched by others who look at their future the same way as you do. Your learning will tap into your creativity and result in refreshed inspiration and new ideas, as well as renewed confidence and energy.

As you look at your most crucial goals, consider all time frames, from the very short-range to the end of your life. Also look for the underlying motivation for your goals. Why is the goal important to you? What difference will it make in your life? Understanding this will play a significant role in aligning you with your goal—and in changing the habits that need to be changed for you to achieve it.

Goal-setting is a rewarding lifetime activity. There’s actually no such thing as “completing” your goals. As long as you’re growing and learning, you’ll always keep adopting new goals and making new progress. The more you learn, the more you’ll want to discover. Your goals will draw you into situations, relationships, and endeavors that will force you to adapt, change, and improve. Constant improvement will be its own reward and will fuel your desire for even more learning and growth. The stimulation of achieving new goals will keep the cycle going, and as a result, your future will always be bigger than your past.

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Goal-Setting

Next steps: Dedicate time to your “bigger future” goals — scheduled and away from any distractions (including the office). List all the most important areas in your life and brainstorm what you’d like to be true in one-year’s time. Share your goals with those around you so you’ll have greater accountability and support.

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SCAGoalSetting.pdf

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