As an entrepreneur, it’s impossible important to stay motivated, enthusiastic and proactive in order to keep yourself – and your business – moving in the right direction, and nothing is better at lighting this kind of fire under you than goals. It’s having something to work toward, a target to aim for, a set of milestones that you can look at to see where you are.
This isn’t just because the competition around you is constantly snapping at your heels, or because if you’re not moving forward you are slipping backward; it’s because goals will help you get to where you are personally as well as professionally. It’s how to elevate your circumstances.
With that in mind, we have pulled together a list of goals that every entrepreneur should highlight and look at each morning because, even if you only chase a few of these, you’ll find they make all the difference to a) your business and b) your well-being in general, and nothing is more important than that.
- Go On The Hunt For Like-Minded Peeps
Ask any entrepreneur what they love about their role and they will reel off a long list of benefits, from being their own boss to the better work-life balance they have. But there is one thing that won’t feature on this list and that is the feeling being connected to what’s going on out in the world. Yup. Being plugged in ain’t easy, especially when you are working by yourself in a one-person operation. That’s when the isolation can seriously impact your productivity, growth, and health. Our advice: make a point to get out there and actively connect with like-minded individuals, whether online or locally. It will make a world of difference.
- Hang A Vision Board In Your Office
We don’t want to go all ‘The Secret’ on you and say, “if you dream it, the universe will deliver it” because that’s not how the world works. Not always. That said, having a vision board will give you a much clearer picture of what’s important to you and will help you define what your goals – and dreams – actually look like. It could be that fancy pants sports car you’ve always dreamed of owning since seeing Boogie Nights or it might be a huge ranch you saw being advertised by RMA Brokers, or even a humble boat you can enjoy on your local lake. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a thing. It could be a dream vacation or a big client or anything. The point is: by having pictures of these things in your office, you will have a constant reminder of what you are working towards and that will keep you on the highway of success.
- Know What Your Time Is Worth
The two most valuable things you have in this world are time and knowledge, so if you are constantly being asked by people if they can ‘bend your ear’ and get your advice on things, it may be time to start knowing your worth and charging a consultancy fee. Sure, it is an alien transition to make for many, but if you have what others want then you should be charging a buck or two for it. The reason for this is simple: you only have a certain amount of hours in the day to get everything you need done. That means doing all your work and then having to help out others, so if you are having to sacrifice your own to-do list as a result, you may as well make it a profitable decision. Yes, it will feel weird. But even charging $7.50 for 15 minutes of your time will help you set an expectation and reduce the number of people calling on you for advice. It’s a win-win.
- Focus On Your Health More
There is a ton – and we mean a ton – of evidence out there showing there is a correlation between good health and improved productivity. That’s why you need to make sure you dedicate a chunk of time each day to healthy living, whether it be exercising, meditating, eating better, getting a good night’s sleep. Of course, the big hurdle in the way for most people is time or knowing how to use your time better. Lunch breaks, setting your alarm fifteen minutes earlier, walking instead of taking the bus, getting off a stop earlier, going to bed earlier – there are so many ways you can boost your health, even in this increasingly crazy world.
- Delegate Anything That Doesn’t Make Money
One of the hardest things for an entrepreneur to accept is that they don’t have to do everything themselves, which is why you need to remind yourself you can three times a morning, every morning. This is because delegation can be a lifesaver, especially if you know how to delegate smartly (read: in a way that makes losing control okay). What we mean is, try delegating tasks that don’t require your expertise or skills. That could be your creative copywriting needs, outsourcing your blog, handing over your bookkeeping or whatever administrative tasks you may have. If you take home one thing, make sure it’s this: delegating and outsourcing work is absolutely necessary if you want your company to grow.
- Make Your Web Presence Mad Cool
If you want to build a reputation that gets the people talking and attracts more and more people to your business, then you need to improve your online presence. First off, sit down and look at how you can make your website more wow. That could be adding a touch of personality to it (like Freddie’s Flowers), decorating it in tons of humor (like Copper Milk Creative) or adding imagery that will leave an impression on people. It’s also about making it a living and growing organism by having new content go up as often as possible. It could be social media feeds or a blog or anything. Once you’ve done this, figure out a way to promote this elsewhere on the internet. Share your blog posts on Facebook, announce new blog posts on Instagram and optimize everything so that it is set up for Google success.