You've got a lot on your plate. You're a busy student, working or newbie entrepreneur or an individual that's simply trying to make some positive changes in your life. You find yourself stuck at times, and unable to figure out "where to start," or how to create a plan for your life and/or business.
How many times have you written the same New Year's Resolutions over and over again, to get to the end of the year to find that you still haven't reached your goals?
Forget New Years Resolutions, how many times have you said you're going to do something but didn’t get around to it?
Each year around November and December we start whipping out the journals and list out the goals we want to achieve.
Problem is, New Year's Resolutions don’t work, and neither do thoughts and dreams, with a plan. And no, our lives don't have to be outlined down to the second, but if there's something in your life that you absolutely, unequivocally can't live without, or can’t stop thinking about, then you owe it to yourself to create a plan to get it.
So what are you to do?
Here's a secret: You can make your dream a reality and achieve your goals if and only if you do something very simple…take petit (little or small) step steps toward them every single day. Here are a few effective ways to ramp up and achieve more of your goals this month.
Focus on One to Three goals at a time
You know that you get overwhelmed and suffer from shiny object syndrome. Before you even think about the actions of the goal(s), realize that you must narrow down your focus if you want to achieve maximum results. Deepen your intentions and focus on one to three goals per year, and throughout the month.
Take some time to truly envision the results you seek and prioritize which goal comes first. You should be able to narrow down the high priority goals from the low priority. The high priority goals are essentially the ones that keep you up at night. They also stir up the most emotion when you think of them.
Do this and you will be doing yourself a favor later. Overwhelm anyone?
Know Your Why
Your why is just as important as the goal itself. Without your why, you are doing yourself a huge disservice. Your neglecting the engine that moves your goal forward.
'Think of your why as the gasoline and your goal as the fire…when the two combine there's an explosion!
You want that kind of energy behind your goals. You want to feel alive and energized and driven to take on the obstacles and struggles that are sure to come. You need to utilize that energy on the days when you just don't feel like working on your goals.
The key here is to attach your goal to your why that is so profound that it will nag at you if you try to neglect it.
Breakdown your tasks
This is a biggie, and often times the most overlooked step in ramping up your goals.
It has been stated that one of the main reasons individuals set goals and don’t achieve them is their inability to break their goals down into chunks or categories that make the goals more manageable.
The three main categories I suggest are projects, Single Tasks, and Recurring Tasks.
Do this and you are sure to avoid overwhelm. this may sound like a no -brainer, but unfortunately many miss the importance of this simple step.
Schedule it In
To put it another way, once you have your category of tasks listed, put them in your calendar, day planner, Google calendar etc. etc.
Don’t just create yet another "to do" list with mountains of do's to do, but instead make your goals apart of your day. Or as the great Neville Goddard says, "live from your goals."
Over time those petit steps that you make throughout your day will turn into major milestones, then achievements. Take Petit Steps to Success everyday and you will reap the rewards from your hard work.
And remember to reward yourself for your efforts, no matter how bug or how small.
Then What?
Of course these tips are just the beginning of setting and achieving your goals, but they provide a great start for individuals, newbie/working entrepreneurs, and students. The important thing to remember is that no one is perfect at achieving everything. We all fail, and fall short at times.
But the key is to experiment, and find the process or system that works best for you and your situation.
There are plenty of goal setting resources out there, but the FREE PSTS 30 Day Vision Plan (see below) will surely guide you for the next 30 days toward achieving your goal.
So if you're ready to take this year by storm and ramp up your goals this month and beyond, DOWNLOAD my FREE PSTS 30 Day Vision Plan. It will give you the framework and plan you need to keep your goal(s) on track and headed toward success!
PSTS 30 Day Vision Plan
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In around August or September of 2008, I gave birth to my son and simultaneously a new business. The circumstances surrounding me at the time were less than desirable. This article will illustrate how i dug myself out of an unfavorable situation.
To begin, while I was on maternity leave in 2008, I received an email from my employer at the time stating that “your services would no longer be needed.” Now if yo are familiar with the family/medical leave laws, laying off an employee while on maternity leave is highly illegal.
So on one particular day I was sitting in the couch with my newborn in my arm thinking to myself, “How am I going to help provide from this little one now? I in no one wanted to rely upon one income for a family of three, so I got starting thinking.
Being dependent on one salary for a family of three did not sit well with me because I have always been very independent and held one, two and sometimes three jobs to ensure income was coming in.
So I dug deep and had an “aha” moment. I decided I would pursue an idea that was floating around in my head for a couple of years at that point.
And that’s exactly what I did. I grabbed a notebook, baby in hand and starting writing my ideas and every idea I could possibly think of related to the business idea.
From that, the business plan formed, the unofficial mini plan that is.
I didn’t know how I would pull this idea off, but what I did know is that I was clear that going back to work for anyone again was out of the question given the fact that the employer I devoted over two years to felt I was expendable during one of the most vulnerable times in my life.
I had my why.
Next I needed a plan. Once that was finished, I needed to get a website and get the word out. Luckily for me I knew a few things about graphic design. So I purchased a domain and hosting and put together a nice “starter” website.
From there the plan was simple. Hustle Hustle Hustle.
Here are the steps I took to turn my situation around and turn that idea into a reality.
From a young age, I loved the restaurant and hospitality industry. I planed events early on in life and had a knack for being the hostess with the mostess.
A few years before that fateful event of being laid off, I had an idea to create an event staffing service for private home parties. A service that would allow the “hostess” to actually enjoy their event, not work it.
I knew there was a need because I was invited to host many home parties for clients of a restaurant I previously worked in. I watched these women struggle to mingle and enjoy their event because they were being cross utilized between kitchen duties, hanging coats, greeting tasks and other tedious yet important tasks.
So after being laid off, I put my ideas on paper, conducted research and created a mini business plan. From there I found every free website and directory relevant to my industry and listed my company.
As a result, I received a phone call from a reporter from The Denver Post.
“Is this Monica Petit.” She said. “Yes it is.” I replied. Well, my name is —- I’m a reporter for the Denver Post and I would like to interview you about your business Lady of Decorum Event Services. “Ohhh ok.” I said quickly and in a rather high pitched voice. “How did yo u hear about me? i asked. “My editor heard about your business.” She said. “Oh,” i thought out loud. But I haven’t launched yet, I thought to myself.
Next thing you know I’m on the cover of the Inside Out Section with not only a full page spread, but two additional pages within. The day the article came out I expected a small mention. My eyes couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Read the Article here.
As a result, my phone started ringing, and didn’t stop. i was booing clients and creating packages with a newborn in my arms and it felt great!
Now, my story is rare. And your story will be different from mine and others. Your story is your story. But there are some key points you can takeaway from my story. So buckle up and let’s get right into how you can start your business with little to n money.
Your Story is Your Story.
Put Your Ideas on paper
This may seem intuitive for some, but not for others. Putting your ideas, goals, apirations on paper makes it more real. It’s very easy to have an idea, but without the first step of writing in onto a piece of paper, theres the possibility it could lost or worse…forgotton.
Some ways for you to collect and organize your ideas are to get an “idea notebook,” where you can keep your thought. Or utilize Google docs, or Microsoft Office so that your idea are wherever you are.
Then, I kept a small notebook with me at all times for ideas. The actual mini business plan I wrote in 2008 was written in a notebook, so don’t trick yourself into believing it has to be fancy or professional from the start. Today I utilize Microsoft Office to manage all of my notes, due to the abiltiy to sync documents across many devices.
There are a plethera of ways to manage your ideas. Start making a list of the options that will work for you.
But remember, “Perfection kills the dreams.” So, start now. Write it down.
Perfection Kills the Dream.
Create Your Mini Plan
If you already have an idea of the type of business you would like to start, your next step is to research your industry and start devising a mini business plan. Within the mini business plan, be sure to include things like:
Company Name
Industry
industry Competitors
Your Target Audience
A Mini Marketing plan - including social media, email, events, etc.
A list of your Products and Services and potential pricing
A list of people (family, friends, aquantences) other individuals you can email or call for support and referrals.
…Get a much as you can
During the startup phase, it’s important to get as much as you can for free to start. Depending on the type of business youre looking to start, your going to need a few basics.
The following are items you may need that are completely free or low cost:
A website - Wordpress.com, Wix.com, Weebly.com, Squarespace.com
Design - Canva.com, PicMonkey.com
Email Software - Mailchimp.com
Telephone - Your personal cell or home phone
This step is all about laying down the foundational cement whcih enables you to get a good footing for whats to come. Trust me this step and the elements within are neccesary. so don’t skimp on them!
After getting the above information down on paper you will have created a mini business plan.
upon completing that, you must start interacting with your ideal client. Start gathering information about your customers as they come. Seek them out, observe their habits and get familiar with where they hang out, onlne and offline. And lastly if you can interview them, do it!
Once the phone was ablaze in my business I created a database with new client information. I gathered that information via forms, surveys, and phone conversations.
Whether they booked or not, i knew then that having thei information stored was crucial to communicating witht hem later.
Use the information you collect to not only follow-up, but to help you build your target audience profile.
Get Visible & Reachable
Getting myself listed on every free directory, creating profiles on social media channels and simply telling the people on the spreadsheet from step two what i was doing opened the door to the newspaper article.
I had no idea my business would be seen by the editor and eventually receive a full page spread a a result of my efforts. But what i did know was I needed to exhaust every free option to launch my business.
And it worked.
So step three focuses on visibility and becoming reachable. Once you nail down your company description, start listing your business on relevant sites. Choose sites and directories that are within your industry. Also have a presence on various social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, Periscope or Pinterest.
Use a consistent bio for each site you list on so that you are easy to find.
A few free site I recommend:
Google My Business
Yelp.com
Foursquare.com
MerchantCircles.com
Local.com
But remember, make sure the sites are relevant to your industry. The non industry specific like Google M Business are necessary.
Once you’re listed on the directories, you are now reachable and visible. how would that reporter have reached me without a valid email and a working telephone?
Exactly, she probably wouldn’t. But your job as a business owner is to make sure your customers can find you.
That’s it! The three basic steps I took to start my first business with zero dollars.
I know it seems simple, but trust me when I say that these three steps laid the foundation for the success of my business today, eleven years later. What comes next is simply strategy, tactics, and implementation.
There a multitude of pieces to the entrepreneurial puzzle. But these steps will give you a foundation of the basics. After launching my company Lady of Decorum, I went on to open other businesses with the same basic steps, including a very successful restaurant.
Remember, its just a start. The startup phase is all about planning.
For a free, no-obligation planning consultation, contact Monica by completing the quick-response form at here. Set aside just 30 Minutes and discover how you can Start turning your business dreams into reality.
Also, I would love to hear about your business, so take a moment and tell me about it in the comments below.
5 Surefire Ways to Manage Your Goals
Define Your Why.
“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” ~ Jim Rohn
You want that kind of energy behind your goals. You want to feel alive and energized and driven to take on the obstacles and struggles that are sure to come. You need to utilize that energy on the days when you just don’t feel like working on your goals.
The key here is to attach your goal to a why that is so profound that it will nag at you if you try to neglect it.
What I have learned through all of my experiences thus far with success and failure is that in order to make your vision a reality, you must have a clear plan, and take massive action. And when I massive action, that doesn’t mean cramming every single task you can into one day, and leave no room for sun or social events.
What I mean is, “You need to take Petit Steps to Success, to achieve your goals.
After identifying what fear feels like to you, focus your energy on setting clearly defined goals and creating a plan of action to set those goals in motion.
The first step in setting clear goals is to get razor clear on your why. In connecting your goals to your why, a foundation is laid to maintaining motivation. By doing this, you create a connection that will propel you and your actions.
When you feel alone in the desert of your goals, your why will provide the lifeline you need to succeed. You know what I’m referring to, don’t you? -Those moments when you haven’t quite made your goal a reality, but you won’t stop trying to find the fuel to persist. Those are desert moments. Your energy is down, it’s hot and you’re feeling dry, wounded, discouraged and thirsty. These are the moments when your why will keep you moving forward. But, your why must be heart-centered.
Your Why is Your Lifeline."
Then, once your why is established, your priorities will align with your goals.
PSTS 30 Day Vision Plan
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How's your year going so far?
It's not to late to Plan Your Business Year, if you haven't already.
At this point in the month, you should be making some steps toward the goals you set out to achieve this year. But if you are still struggling to get your goals in line and create objectives that will move your goals forward, you are in luck. I know how you feel, because I was once just like you.
With the last week of January approaching, I want to help you refocus on those big goals you set for your business this year. And the first thing I recommend is that you get really clear on the thing that's holding you back, so that you can recognize when it creeps up on you and nip it in the bud!
To find out whats holding you back I've compiled a few questions that will give you insight into those blocks right away. Answer these 6 questions here to get clear.
What's Your Biggest Business Setback? Find Out Now!
Then after you complete that, join me in Business Planning to Rock Your Year, a 7 day mini sprint designed to help you make plans for growing your business. It's absolutely FREE, so all you need to do is Sign Up! I'm not talking airy-fairy stuff here. These are hands-on, actionable tips and strategies you can use every day to embrace planning, set ambitious goals, and then work towards reaching them.
If you haven't made progress on your goals, or simply didn't make any, or you want to learn strategies to make them successful, JOIN ME!
Each day during this sprint, I'll walk you through:
Why Business Planning Is The Secret To Success
Know Where You’re At Right Now To Measure Growth & Figure Out What You Should Be Working On
Increasing Traffic, Subscribers & Customers To Boost Your Bottom Line
How To Work Backwards To Set Your Business Goals
Why You Have To Write Your Business Goals Down
Stepping Out Of Your Comfort Zone
How To Engineer Explosive Growth By Stacking Your Efforts
Here's what you can expect when you work with me...
Planning templates
Daily Strategies and prompts
Tutorials
Q + A
Each day will have lessons and examples from my business of 10 years, that you can draw inspiration from, and learn the lessons I had to learn the hard way. You'll walk away with a Plan of Action that will keep you focused and help you measure your results.
Create a Framework for Business Growth.
Join the FREE Rock Your Business Planning Challenge!
Are you ready to stop getting paralyzed by trying to "figure out" where to start. Do you have the pieces but have no idea how to put them together daily, or weekly? Are you constantly affected by Shiny Object Syndrome? Then join me on Thursday and lets talk about it, and do something about it. Action Now, Talk Later!
What you'll learn in this video:
-How to Work From Your Goals, Not On Them
-A Simple 5 Step Process to build your Vision Plan
-The Main Reasons You're Not Achieving Your Goals
-Ways to Overcome Overwhelm and Shiny Object Syndrome
-The Number 1 Reason New Years Resolutions DON'T Work
