Ethical Goal Setting: Make Each Objective Count
You Have a Huge Responsibility
To Do Something Good in this World
As an ethical business owner, you want to become an industry leader to be able to make positive changes in your industry and also to change the way people shop. Wow, that’s a tall order!
You also want people to buy your ethical products which cost more than it’s cheaply made cousin a few stores down the street.
Let me ask you: When you thought about starting your business, did you have a million ideas floating around your creative head? Did you reach all the goals you set back then? Or even your goals you set last year?
Fair Warning: This post is not about the ins and outs of setting SMART goals.
You know, those that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time bound. That’s all fine and good, but I want to talk about choosing goals that truly mean something to you which is why I’m handing you a simple, non-technical process on how to reach them.
5 Tips to Set Goals to Keep You Motivated
#1: Recognize Your Passion and Reach for the Stars
#2: Set Realistic Objectives
#3: Delegate and Outsource
#4: Celebrate Every Accomplishment
#5: Give Yourself – and Others – a Break
#1: Recognize Your Passion and Reach for the Stars
If you’ve been in business for a few years, you’ve probably set a few goals and know what you want this year, in 5 years and in 10 years.
Do your goals give you a tingle in your belly when you talk or think about them? Do you do the Snoopy dance when you get one step closer to them?
If not, then rethink your goals! If you’re working towards a goal that you barely care about or craft an idea that doesn’t excite you, then, most likely, it’s just not worth your attention.
“Kid, You’ll Move Mountains”
Dr. Seuss
Let’s say you’re in the clothing industry and one goal you set was to start making shoes to accompany your outfits. It’d be a great financial opportunity for you, but you just haven’t started working on it yet.
Maybe you don’t know where to start or you’re having doubts that your customers really want shoes. Whatever your excuse, it doesn’t matter. Apparently, you don’t really care about that goal, so let it go!
If you’re passionate about something, you’ll WANT to make it happen. You would have collected information on how to start and have already surveyed your customers to make sure they want your shoes on their feet. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Right?
But if you’re not passionate about it, you’ll procrastinate and get frustrated with yourself for not taking care of it. Don’t put that kind of pressure on yourself and stop wasting time on ideas that don’t excite you.
What you need to do is first figure out what you really want. Even if it sounds unattainable. Reach for the stars. And then take action.
Seriously, if your goal is to clean up the entire ocean, then so be it! It’s people like Boyan Slat who move mountains that appear unmovable.
#2: Set Realistic Objectives
This is where many people get stuck. It’s not the goal that needs to be realistic per se.
<< Insert Common Sense Clause here >>
Your objectives need to be realistic. Objectives help you reach your goals. If they’re unattainable, forget about it, you’ll never reach your goal.
Define objectives that will set you up for success. That way, you can’t lose and will quickly reach your goal. Within each objective, write down every actionable step/task in a timeline or on your calendar.
For example: Let’s say your goal is to build up a successful ethical business and sell it to a passionate partner in 20 years so that you can live out your early retirement saving rhinos and managing educational programs for children in Africa. Go YOU!
To reach that goal, you’ll definitely need to define financial objectives. Only taking one year/quarter/month (however you want to measure) at a time, you could write something like this: By December 31, 2018: 1) Increase sales by 100% and 2) Decrease advertising budget by 25%.
Well that’s a pretty tall order, but it IS attainable, so begin to break it down into actionable steps. Brainstorming with your team will help you turn your ultimate goal into more than just a dream.
Only those goals that excite you are worth your attention.
Set Passionate Goals – Define Realistic Objectives – Plan Actionable Steps.
#3: Delegate and Outsource
This is a tough one if you’re multi-talented. Sure, you can do everything yourself. But you also know it’s not the way to become a changemaker and industry leader, so I’m not going to spend any more time trying to convince you of this fact.
But let’s say you have tasks that your team has never done before or it’s a task that just can’t be added to a player’s plate because it’s just too full at the moment. You’ll have to either delegate it to someone else or outsource.
First, look within your company. Does a particular task fit perfectly with someone else’s competence and personality? You’d be surprised at what would interest people. Maybe there’s an aspiring author amongst your manufacturing team? Someone who would love to opportunity to write a short article each week or spend a half day handling your social media management.
Just think: Customers love to meet other members of your team and to break up their day with a new, interesting task may just be their cup of tea to fulfill their life’s purpose.
Many times though, you’ll have to seek external help. If that’s the case, it’s wise to find someone or an agency who shares the same values.
Goal Setting Rule 101:
Do More of What Makes You Happy and Reach for the Stars
#4: Celebrate Every Accomplishment
Isn’t it fun to cross off a task list – bam, bam, bam? It just feels great, doesn’t it? Well, each task completed, big or small, is an achievement. It brings you one step closer to reaching your goal. So make sure you celebrate each step of the way.
It could be a fist bump with the team manager or if the task was difficult, make a toast to your team with sparkling wine on a Friday afternoon before heading into a well-earned weekend.
However you want to celebrate, just make sure you make every step count and share your excitement with your team members. They’ll appreciate any recognition along the way.
#5: Give Yourself – and Others – a Break
Another tough one. I’m personally guilty of not always being able to forgive myself when things don’t go as planned. I think many female entrepreneurs have this gene. But, over the past few years, I’ve learned to embrace the virtue of forgiveness and it’s truly helped me succeed on what’s truly important.
If you don’t reach your goals, please don’t push yourself or your team members off the stage. You’re human. You can’t succeed all the time, nor can your anyone else. And sometimes, what you felt was more important than anything in the world, really wasn’t.
The best way to deal with defeats is to reflect and learn from your mistakes. Look back at your project and figure out what went wrong and how you can improve to reach it the next time.
I found this part extremely difficult in the corporate world where perfection was expected, at least where I worked. There are bosses out there who are true leaders and there are bosses out there who, well, aren’t.
Be a leader, not a/n __________ (fill in the blank).
Need Help Defining Your Goals?
What goals have you set for this year? Please comment below and let’s talk !
Rock On,
Photo credit: Andreas Fidler on Pixabay.
