Too many people focus on small goals like I want to do this next week or that this month.
And while there is a time and place for these task-related goals, the only way we truly move our businesses forward is if we have a true “purpose” goal.
So what is a purpose goal?
It is the big WHY – the driving force that helps you move even when things are really tough. It is the reason you became a business owner in the first place. So many people – myself included – because their own boss through circumstance – like redundancy, illness, family requirements, etc. However if we truly ask ourselves why we choose to go self-employed instead of just find another job – well then we will start to find the real reasons.
How do I set purpose goals?
Great question! This is the important bit, you need to be super honest with yourself. Think about why you decided to start, what are you trying to move towards? I always tell my clients that the clearer your purpose the further you will get – so you want to get crystal clear on what it is all about for you!
These are a few of the questions I ask clients as they start their journey:
- Why did you start your business?
- What are you running towards?
- What are you running away from?
- What do you want to earn in a year?
- How many hours do you want to be working?
By starting to define these questions you will be moving closer to the goal. So let’s consider some of the things you might need to think about and I will share some of my answers to help you on your way.
Why did you start your business – the immediate answer used to be – I was made redundant – So the new question was – We didn’t you get another job? And this is when it then gets juicy. For me it was mostly around the restrictions that my last job came with, only being allowed 2 weeks holiday at once (not fun when you are trying to see family in South Africa), having to travel a 2-hour roundtrip every day as no one was trusted to work from home. Having to attend work do’s which I mostly didn’t enjoy – just not my thing really.
So what am I running towards? A life that is more flexible, I want to be able to travel when I want. I want to be able to take longer chunks off or work remotely from wherever I am. I wanted to stop traveling for work. (now – this didn’t happen immediately but it was something to work towards)
When exploring how much you want to earn – I always say write down 2 figures – how much you NEED to earn and how much you WANT to earn. They are likely different and one is your starting point, the second is your goal. This is really important because you won’t just start earning a huge amount overnight. It takes time and work to build the momentum needed. Once you have your 2 figures you can create a stepped plan to the point of what you want. But by creating a stepped plan you won’t be instantly disappointed by the amount that you earn in the early days.
How much do you want to work? I love this question – so many business owners want freedom (and to help people) so truly asking how much time do you want to spend on your business, do you want to be a household name, traveling the world and talking on the biggest stages, or do you want to make enough to live and enjoy life working with a small number of people a year? Do you want to work one to one or in groups? Do you want to create a community or a 1 touch service or product?
The more details the purpose goal the better! As you really need to understand why you are working at your business. It can be hard to start a business, it can be hard to run a business alone. But it is so important that you have that motivation and driver set in stone.
I always suggest writing this down. Whether in a journal or printed and stuck on your wall. It is best that you can see and remember the goal you are moving towards. This will help you say yes to the important stuff and no to the stuff that moves you off course.
We can all be lead astray by shiny, quick, or fun —— but that is not what will move your business forward. Having a structured plan and a solid foundation is key to your business success.
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Chat soon!