2014 Goal Setting in 45 Minutes or Less

Have you begun your business planning for 2014 yet or have the impending holidays gotten you sidetracked? With Christmas less than two weeks away, the last thing you're probably thinking of is planning for 2014 but you should be. Pick a day in the next week, schedule an hour and put together your action plan for 2014 in 45 minutes or less with these three simple steps.

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Step 1: Clear Your Mind and Focus (20 minutes)

Planning for your business is 2014 doesn't have to be difficult or time consuming. Mute your phone, close the door and focus only on what you want to accomplish in 2014. Chances are you already have a good idea in your head, you simply need to write it down to make it more concrete.

Start by making a simple list of the things you want to achieve. Maybe it's some of the goals that didn't quite make it to completion in 2013? Is it to launch a new project that you've been thinking about for the last six months? Is it to reach a new milestone in your business? Adding new staff?

Reach for the stars and dream big. Anything is possible so just open your mind up to the possibilities and get excited about the potential in the new year.

Step 2: Narrow Down Your List and Create the Steps (15 minutes)

Steve Jobs had a wonderful approach to planning. He would advise his staff to write down all their ideas, big, small, and huge, it didn't matter. Then he would tell them to pick the top three. And those would be the first three projects to be worked on. Once those three were completed, there was a ready made list of projects to choose from.

Now look at the list you made in step 1 and circle the top three. Which ones will make the most impact for your customers or your business? Which ones get you the most excited or will be the ones to launch your business into its next level? Look at them and write down the steps it will take to get there for each one.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
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Step 3: An Object In Motion Stays in Motion (10 minutes)

Newton's first law of motion applies in business: An object in motion, stays in motion unless stopped and an object at rest, stays at rest until forced out of that rest. You are the force behind your business so get yourself in motion. Put your plan into action - don't just wait for the new year to start. Use this time to start on the steps you identified and get your goals moving in the right direction.

Bonus Step: Share Your Goals with the World

Sharing goals with others makes them more concrete and has the added benefit of allowing others to participate in your achievements. So get the word out!

Here's to your continued success and Happy New Year from all of us at AddressTwo University & AddressTwo!