By
Bob Phibbs
Updated July 18, 2024
Do you dread the pressure of setting goals, only to feel like you failed when they’re not achieved? Many of us would rather outsource effective goal-setting to someone else than sit down and plan what we desire.
There’s a risk when you set goals; you might fail.
And while most of us hope for a sure thing, if there’s a chance of failure, we avoid it. But what if you succeed? How would that change your life? What other things could you accomplish if you were brave? Read on...
By setting goals, maintaining a positive mindset, and creating achievable steps to success, you give yourself confidence as you chart your course.
This process isn’t about your ego; it's about opening your mind to what could be and focusing your attention and acting.
The big picture
In a hallmark study, people who repeated something daily or almost daily turned that thing into a habit in an average of 66 days. To change the outcome, you must make it a part of your daily routine.
I've put together five tips designed specifically for busy retail owners. These guidelines will help ensure your goals become attainable and enjoyable.
1. Identify how you want to feel and set your intentions
It is important to think about how you want to feel and how you will feel after you reach your goal. We call them goal outcomes. Doing this will help you stay motivated and focused when the going gets tough.
But you also have to change your self-talk. Much of what we say to ourselves is shaming, which shuts us down. Frame your thinking like these examples:
FROM: I need to lose 10 pounds
TO: I am the type of person who doesn’t miss a workout
FROM: I need to make the bed because someone said so
TO: I am the type of person who makes the bed
FROM: I need to follow up
TO: I am the type of person who follows up with everyone on time
2. Break it down into smaller, achievable pieces
The best way to reach any goal is by breaking it down into manageable chunks. This allows us to progress without overwhelming ourselves with too much at once.
While Jim Collins pioneered the Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal (BHAG), most of us dream too small.
Ask yourself better questions to create a goal that you'll not only think is doable but also energizing.
- What if...? is a great way to start.
- What if I could? What if x happened?
- How would I feel?
Then, work backward on the steps you’d need to do.
You should start with big dreams and break them down into smaller steps. Not the other way around.
Remember that big things happen from the actions you take daily.
3. Set deadlines
Give yourself a due date for each step toward reaching your goal. Break down larger goals into multiple parts with separate deadlines. Know that even if you miss a deadline, you can start again.
This will help keep you accountable and on track for achieving success.
Time is the enemy when you're not held accountable. And it is the Achilles heel of most retailers for inaction who:
- Stay busy like an employee
- Are eager to tell others how busy they are
- Don't hold themselves accountable.
4. Create an action plan
You've probably been doing this as part of your Sales Strategy, breaking down yearly sales goals.
Once your goal is broken down into smaller, achievable pieces, write down a plan for tackling each step. I use Monday.com to help me create a list of 1, 3, and 5.
Each work day, I select one thing I can/must accomplish that day. Then, I select three things to do the next day and five for the week. I draw from a bucket of other things I would like to do to create this list of five.
Because it is online, I have to put it in my calendar to go there each morning.
A written plan will help keep you focused and motivated to reach the desired result because you are driving your success.
5. Celebrate each accomplishment
It is important to give yourself credit for every little victory along the way. You put something in your phone's calendar—great. You scheduled 30 minutes to make a plan—great.
Glenn Close, then starring in the Broadway musical Sunset Boulevard, treated herself to an Oreo after each performance. She said, "I love matinee days because I get two."
Taking time to celebrate large and small achievements is key to maintaining motivation to pursue our goals. So go ahead—pat yourself on the back! You’ve earned it!
The bottom line
With inflation waning and interest rates rising, planning, personal growth, and employee development will be key.
To help reach your sales goals, there's nothing like getting everyone on the same page, knowing how to interact with shoppers, and closing more sales. That comes from training. SalesRX, my online retail sales training platform, has all the resources you need to grow your retail sales.
