Goal Planning Success — a Personal Account of the Power of Writing it Down!

A story of goal setting — planning out and working on your business, not just in your business, to reach further and find success.

Have you ever looked through an old notebook and come across notes that shared what you were doing at the time, seen a list of goals you had set, or a to-do list you wrote out?

I was doing just that this past weekend — looking back through a notebook from 2019.

The notes I took were from a mastermind workshop I participated in during the fall/winter season of 2019-2020. 

The first thing they had us do during this workshop was to write down what we wanted our business to look like in 5 years and what goals or items we would need to accomplish to make our business a success in 5 years. 

I also wrote down the same thing for my 3-year goals, my 2-year goals and tasks, and a one-year set of goals and tasks. I put this notebook in the drawer and didn’t think about it again — until now. 

Looking back now, I am reminded of a couple of those 5-year goals I still want to achieve, what those tasks were that I needed to finish to make it happen, and what I was doing to make it to that goal.

I also came across my 2022 year-end goals and task list and compared the two. Ironically, even though I hadn’t looked at the previous 5-year goal plan in more than three years, my task lists then and now stayed in alignment, because I always kept the big goal in the back of my mind.

There are 4 months until the end of the year and I only have 2 more of the original 10 goals yet to complete for my 2022 task list; three of those tasks I completed before June of this year. 

I know your thinking… “good for you – but why are you telling me this?”

Keep in mind I wrote my original 5-year goals in 2019 but found the notebook just recently and reviewed the list of goals and tasks.  I didn’t keep reviewing these lists every month or even every year.  

When I wrote what I wanted my business to look like 5 years down the road, I… 

(A) …took the time to think about my dream company:

• Who would be involved?
• What would it look like?
• Where would it be located?
• What would be my involvement in the day-to-day operations?
• Would there be any changes to my core services?
• Would there be any changes to my core audience focus?

(B) …put down on paper what I thought was the big goal – the primary goal and my reason for wanting to reach that goal. There is power in writing it all down!

(C) …didn’t have any idea how I was going to make any of these goals happen; neither the primary goal nor any of the sub-goals associated with it.

I did, however, know my direction and where I wanted my business to be in 5 years. I knew I wanted to be in that place of being able to “work smarter and not harder”.  I wanted to own a growing business; not owning my job in the business.   

(D) …and, this was most important… I really believed this goal was achievable – never a doubt.

I started this journey by setting S.M.A.R.T goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely goals.

This is a true account of how if you were to write down your goals -using pen and paper – it helps to make those goals feel more real and the first sure way to make the goals become reality.

Be mindful of the present, but don’t get trapped in the present — Always be working for your future and always be bettering yourself.

Consider getting a business coach, or multiple coaches to work on various parts of your personal and professional life and help you stay focused so you can keep moving forward.  Professional sports players are not the only ones who work with coaches to improve their talents and further their careers.

One more tip… read business books (or listen to podcasts and take notes) and attend continuing education classes and resources to continue bettering yourself. If you have staff – invest in their education, too, as this all helps YOUR business goals.

Keep reaching and looking for ways to improve yourself and your business and you will reach your retirement with wealth, health, and happiness.