Ray Titus is CEO of United Franchise Group (UFG), a global leader for entrepreneurs with brands in over 1,600 locations in 60 countries.
We’re well into 2024, but it’s not too late to set a new course with goals to move the needle in your career or business. In fact, this might be the perfect time. With mindsets focused on the path ahead, you’re in a position to move forward without distractions. It’s time to see where you want to go and determine the steps you’ll take to get there.
I’ve always believed in goal setting, and I believe so strongly in it that we’ve hired a manager at my company whom we call our “dream coach”—a designated professional who meets with all employees to guide them in achieving their business and personal goals. We don’t want them to focus all their energy on business at the expense of their personal lives; balancing the two makes for the kind of well-rounded person we want on our team, and adding new personal skills can make you a better business leader.
Setting Yourself Up For Success
One mistake many people make when setting goals is to have too many. I believe in setting three goals each year; if you’re stretching yourself with challenging objectives, three is plenty. I can see going as high as five if something really fires you up, but any more than that is a to-do list.
As you decide your goals, look for the sweet spot: not too hard but not too easy. They should make a significant difference for your company while exciting and inspiring you. For example, signing three new clients a week is probably impossible; you’ll likely feel defeated and want to give up in the first week. But three a year will barely register, and you’ll likely get bored.
A critical part of the goal-setting process is planning lead measures, the actionable steps you or your staff will take to hit each goal. You need two or three steps for each goal, making them measurable and time-bound so you’ll know if you’ve reached your mark. For instance, if your team decides to increase revenue by a certain amount, you might decide that each member will make a certain number of sales calls and hit a budget number each week. To earn the year’s target amount, how much must you bring in each quarter, month and week?
Once you’ve set your destination, here are some ideas for getting there.
Five Career Resolutions
These are not goals in themselves but projects and behaviors that can help you reach the big-picture objectives of your year.
1. Become a mentor. Offer to guide a new employee or one who’s just joined your team. Not only will you help the mentee learn new skills they can contribute to company growth, but you’ll stay up to date on technology and business terms. (I’ve found you never learn faster than when you have to teach someone else.)
2. Volunteer to manage a new project. Step up and take charge of a revenue- or knowledge-building endeavor. A project that needs you to recruit and assemble a team is ideal, but stepping into someone else’s leadership shoes also offers opportunity.
3. Read regularly. I encourage our employees to read at least one new book each month, more if possible. Whether it’s a business book or something that educates and motivates another aspect of your life, you will likely discover three or four ideas you can use.
4. Embrace change. Many people have trouble with change, but it’s the only constant in business; every day, it seems to come faster and faster. Change for change’s sake isn’t always good, but neither is resisting it because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” Be one of the organization leaders who welcomes new developments and owns the change, and you may rise even faster than you dreamed.
5. Honor the winners. This is a critical step in any goal process. If you don’t acknowledge big goals when you hit them, what are you telling your team—that they weren’t important enough? When your team performs well, show your appreciation with recognition dinners, award ceremonies or anything else that makes a big deal about it. People love being part of winning teams, and shining a spotlight on them is essential.
Goal!
Knowing what you want in life for your career and your personal life is the key to getting it, and I’ve found that putting those dreams in writing is the most crucial step you can take toward achieving it; this solidifies your commitment and makes it more real. Get started now, and by year’s end, you’ll likely have many reasons to call it a successful year.
