Are you waiting for things to ‘slow down’?
Are you waiting for things to ‘slow down’ to focus on your goals?
When I was a Relationship Manager selling Professional Services back in the day, I had a number of prospects tell me to call them back when they weren’t as busy. When I did call back, guess what they had to say? It’s still not a good time, I’m still so busy!
Granted, I also understood for some, this was likely a way of deferring a ‘sales’ conversation, but this response also came from many current clients who were in the middle of a project with my company. After leaving that role and years later moving into working with my clients, the same message was popping up - that was, in its essence - I have this goal, but I have too much going on to pursue it.
It’s like saying, I want to start running, but I don’t have time to buy the shoes.
Isn’t this the point of prioritization?
If life or the demands of the business are getting in the way of your most important goals, then are you really prioritizing them?
I’m saying this as much for me as for anyone else who sees themselves here.
I too, have said the words - “I just don’t have time to do that thing that I know is going to help me move forward and has been on my goal list for a while.”
This is what I call goal purgatory.
To get us out of this torment:
1. Focus on Simple Mini Wins (SMWs)!
The challenge of some of our goals is that they’re so big. This is great - in fact - I don’t want your goals to be smaller, I want to encourage you to think big! But when it comes to achieving them, the smaller the step the better. SMWs are achievable and help create the momentum and feeling of accomplishment that’s needed for us to continue to the next step. What’s a small mini-win? Something that has been completed that allows you to move to the next step. An example could be: Delivering ONE proposal for a new service to a prospective client. Or: Delivering ONE webinar. Or: calling THREE prospects.
After you accomplish one step, you immediately move to the next best small step.
2. All is not equal in your calendar
I’m going to say it here: Acknowledge that you can’t do it all. Not everything holds equal importance or relevance (even though we think they do sometimes). Some things will have to go on the back burner for now or alternatively, be prepared to give them up. Give yourself permission that you can come back anytime if you change your mind. But, for now, if it doesn’t align with the important things that you’re trying to accomplish, consider cutting back for a period of time or cutting them out completely.
3. If you’re still not doing Steps 1 & 2 is it time to switch?
If you find yourself skimming steps one and two thinking, ‘yeah I get that, but I’m still having problems prioritizing the things I need to do to achieve my goals’, then it’s time to ask if they’re truly important to you. And be honest with yourself.
OR maybe you haven’t set the right goals? If you find yourself working on other things, and constantly putting off what you think you need to be doing, then look at why.
Is another priority taking precedence that you’re not acknowledging?
Perhaps your goals are a few steps ahead of what you or your business need now?
Instead of ignoring it, take a moment to reflect on this idea.
For example: If you decided that you want to sell more of a certain service this year and yet what you find yourself focussing on is improving how you deliver your service - then perhaps that’s what’s needed first: First, improve your service delivery. Then, sell more of it.
You may be jumping ahead before you’re ready to pursue the specific goal of selling more, because it needs some work first.
Waiting for things to ‘slow down’ is not going to work. That’s a symptom of a larger issue. Getting to the heart of why ‘you’re so busy’ will serve you for the better and as a result, help you move forward in a meaningful and productive way.
NOW is YOUR time.
Ariana
PS: if this is something you’d like to speak more about, bring this up in your next coaching session or if we don’t work together, book time for us to chat here.
PPS: If your goals this year involve growth in your business, stay tuned for an upcoming training I’m holding on Building your Growth Engine! Stay tuned for information on how to register.