Are you ready to set your goals for 2008?
I find serial entrepreneurs set goals each year. They realize the value of goals printed and reviewed as months pass by. Goals challenge us, motivate us, and inspire innovation and determination. They help us build our character.
Based on my emails and blog feedback during 2007, here are some suggestions for setting your 2008 goals:
- Review your 2007 goals. Did you have any? Even if you only recall vaguely one goal, how fully did you achieve it?
- Use Aristotle's Triangle to create your goals. That wise old Greek philosopher said humans were composed of 3 basic elements: (1) spiritual, (2) material, and (3) physical. So what are your goals for family, friends, religion, personal character, and other spiritual matters? What are you aiming for with yourself with your startup? And what are you going to do about your (too often) lagging health program? That should get you started.
- Goals have a number and a date. Objectives do not. "I will lead a healthier life style" is an objective. "I will exercise at least half an hour at least three days per week for 50 weeks in 2008" is a goal.
- One material goal I highly recommend is to learn the power of the new marketing. Most emails exhibit frustration with the lack of power in competitive advantage. And most are wildly off the mark with how to use public relations and not use advertising. I strongly recommend you commit to a goal to watch all of the Ries Report videos in 2008. That will get you started. Most marketing plans I see are not bad,they are terrible!
- One spiritual goal I suggest to people I coach is to work on balancing personal life with startup life. New enterprises are marathons, not sprints. Temporary is a long time waiting for five years to get the startup successful and then try to return to what you put on hold (your girlfriend will not even remember your name).
- Make a copy of your goals, put it into a self-addressed, stamped envelope, and hand it to a trustworthy friend. Have your friend mail your goals to you in September.
BOTTOM LINE: Great leaders set personal goals. They strive to attain them. Goals keep us focused and on target. Startups can easily distract their leaders. Learn to balance life. That will build your strength in many ways and add powerful elements to your unfair advantage.
Comments