Setting Short & Long Term Goals For Your Business

We all start January with a fresh canvas on which to paint our possibilities for the new year.   As creative entrepreneurs, we’re lucky in that we can spend time in January hitting our internal “refresh buttons” & building on everything we created in the past year.Setting goals can be really challenging; it’s easy to under-estimate your ability or way overshoot the mark.  It can also be unsettling to put it all down on paper—it’s one thing to decide on a goal, but a completely different animal when you have to figure out how you’re going to make it happen.So, today, we’re going to set you up for success in 2012 by laying out a solid process for goal-setting that actually works...meaning, it’s easy to lay out, implement, and accomplish.We’re going to break your 2012 plan into two sets of goals:Long-Term GoalsShort-Term GoalsAn easy way to differentiate between these two types is to think of long-term goals as those that build your mission, and short-term goals as those that build your metrics.Your long-term goals should be the first thing you tackle—don’t get too crazy!  One or two is perfect; remember, these goals are all about slow, steady, sustainable growth.  We’re building your brand and crafting your entrepreneurial persona. Here are some great questions that can help you discover your long-term goals:Why do I do what I do?What do I want to be known for?What sets me apart from my competitors?When you get to a clear long-term goal, the next step is to break it down into manageable (and measurable) actions.  The ability to measure is really important because it allows you to connect conceptual ideas (like the ones you created for your long-term goals) with results you can actually see—and that’s a huge boost to your momentum.   See if you can set up sales goals for each quarter, and then break it down for each week.  If social media growth is part of your long-term plan, give yourself numeric goals to build up to—and more importantly, give yourself a little reward when you hit them.Let’s sketch out an example to get you started:Long-Term Goal: I want to be known as a socially-responsible, eco-friendly retailer of organic baby clothing.Short-Term Goals:1. Connect with 1 business owner each week that specializes in eco-friendly products.2. Get 3 posts up on my Facebook page each week communicating the importance of using eco-friendly products for your baby. 3.  I need to reach $xxx in sales, and I will implement a redesign in my product packaging that better communicates the benefits of my product, and is produced with 100% recyclable materials and soy ink.See how these goals circle right back to the long-term one?  As you meet your short-term goals this year, I encourage you to keep ramping up.  Use the momentum you worked so hard to build.  Imagine where your business will by 2013!I’d love to hear about your goals for 2012 in the comments section below—let us all know what you’re planning for the new year!Megan Gallagher is a small-business strategist working with creative indiepreneurs at Method & Madness.  She talks business development, creative vision, and indie lifestyle through one-on-one strategy sessions, e-guides, and the Method & Madness blog.Main image courtesy of cdsessums

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