How do you set goals that work?

Goal setting is for everyone. Whether you are running a micro-business or a freelancer, setting goals to determine where you want to be is essential. Micro-business owners often get caught up with external circumstances. Many micro-businesses operate with limited resources and need proper support systems. On the other hand, freelancers find it difficult to find time to scale their businesses. Often, they struggle with unrealistic deadlines and exhausting work timetables. 

Such difficulties make it difficult for micro-business owners and freelancers to set goals. Many perceive that getting projects and earning money on the go is sufficient. However, it is essential to set goals that work. Goals don’t just specify where we aim to go, but they also provide energy to get things done. However, at times, it feels like goals are hard to achieve, and they de-motivate individuals rather than motivate them.

Such de-motivation arises from our lack of genuine connection with our goals. It is because we don’t truly feel connected to them, and it is hard for our minds to believe in the goal. Hence, it is vital to set goals that seem realistic to our minds. That is where SMART goals come into play. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-oriented. 

Some examples of SMART goals are as follows.

  1. Attract 100 new subscribers to my online business within a month.
  2. Generate 30% recurring sales within a month. 

Once our goals become specific and realistic, they are achievable to the mind. Another perspective is to find real motives. Many businesses just get caught up in the idea of monetization. Regarding their goals, the main motive seems to be ‘money-making’. To get the extra spice, there needs to be an intrinsic motive associated with the goals. 

Even major theoretical propositions, such as goal-setting theory, advocate the importance of finding intrinsic motivation. As to goal-setting theory, a goal without intrinsic motivation becomes meaningless. As human beings, we tend to find meanings everywhere. It becomes pointless if our goals don’t have any inherent purpose. 

This intrinsic meaning creation goes further with emotionalizing the goals. Goals without meanings and emotions become just tasks and task milestones. They are boring! Here is an example of how to spice up your goals with emotions! 

‘My goal is to generate 1 million in revenue from my exports. My products are organic and unique. I come from a limited educational background and have always dreamt of achieving success. Gaining this much exposure in the international markets means a lot of recognition to me and my family’.

Once you find real intrinsic motives behind your intense desires, they become goals! It is also easy to visualize the results and to convince our subconscious because it is possible to achieve them. This process will lead you towards the necessary actions to achieve the goal. Creating vision boards is also a viable approach to spice up your goal! 

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