Maintaining That January Momentum
Ah, it’s like a breath of fresh air, a new year. Am I right? Especially in these current times where every step forward counts times ten. The tricky part is capturing this January energy and sustaining it as you move forward in your business.
It’s familiar to all of us, that desire to exercise more, drink less, eat better, work harder. But by February - March for the overachievers - we lose steam. This initial motivation for change and achievement dissipates without a solid infrastructure of habitual actions necessary for steady and consistent momentum.
First, let’s dismantle the concept of planning for the full calendar year because it sets us up for failure. We can’t see June right now, never mind December. How can you make a goal if you can’t even see the goal post? We can’t focus on what we can’t see and then we panic when the forgotten deadline is right under our nose, pressuring us to throw the proverbial Hail Mary pass, or not reaching the goal at all.
Entrepreneurs brains are wired differently. There’s more space for ideas and dreaming, but not always enough for creating a strategic plan and sticking to it. Those big dreams need to be broken down into doable vignettes that you can plan out on a realistic calendar.
Don’t plan your entire year
I find the most successful calendar template for achieving goals is 90 days. It gives you 12 weeks to accomplish the reasonable goals you want to achieve in this timeframe. It does not have to start on January 1st or on a Monday. You can start on Wednesday, February whatever. The point isn’t the exact starting date, it’s the actual starting itself.
There's a huge mindset difference in working in 90 day increments. If you set an annual sales or income goal and get nowhere by the end of January, how concerned are you? Not very. Because you have 11 months to make it up. But if you set a goal for 12 weeks, you can't let January go - that's ONE THIRD of your entire timeframe. Setting a 12 week goal forces you into action right away.
Here are some other tips for reaching your goals:
Be Realistic: choose goals that you can reasonably achieve in the time allotted.
Be Specific
Use the old “How, When, Where” system and know exactly what each goal requires.
Do Some Pre-gaming
Spend a few hours or days outlining what you’d like to do and really break it down into micro actions.
Have Fun
Set yourself up for success by enjoying the strategy you set for yourself. Have a reward system. Post about your accomplishments. Anything that makes you excited as you check off your tasks.
Get Support
Wearing all the hats in your business can be daunting. And as a visionary entrepreneur, staying focused on the plan and all the details can be a huge challenge. Get an accountability partner, someone to give unbiased advice and nudge you when you need it. Or hire an accountability coach to help you create the plan and stay focused.
Want to learn more about implementing the 90 day goal system? Schedule a call with me and I’ll show you how it can up your game.
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
Download my free weekly planning guide - it will help you become more intentional with your time, develop a clear action plan for your week, and ensure that you are focusing on activities that will move your business forward - Download Now
Join our next CEO Power Planning Session and spend two and a half hours ON your business. During this facilitated workshop, you’ll set and prioritize your next 12-week goals, break them down into an executable action plan and create a resource plan - Join the Wait List
Apply for the next Close the Gap Program and stay on track to achieve your most important goals. 1:1 support and guidance on prioritizing goals, creating a plan and putting structure and routines in place. Then 12 weeks of group support around execution - Apply today