Sometimes the hardest, most time-consuming thing we do all day in this business is to prioritize. There is so much we would like to do, if only we had the time and knowledge we needed. If you are like me, you have several to-do lists, and you pick and choose between the items, even after writing them down. So how do we decide what to make a priority?
The first step is to set goals, whether that means higher sales, attempting to solve a problem, or even getting healthier...
The best way to set your goals should be, surprisingly, to jump to the end. Visualize where you want to end up in, say, five years. There are no limits now, so you can picture your company with supreme success, or yourself at your ideal weight. Take your time and visualize as many details as possible.
Slowly drop back from that five-year or other long-term goal and set smaller projections for various time increments in between. At this point, try to determine what resources you might need. This may mean hiring new people, taking classes, or buying software or equipment. You may decide to try to take steps to reduce stress, for example, in order to pave the way for the future.
Limiting negative word patterns is important. Refuse to believe the little voice inside your head -- or the voice of an associate -- that says it can't be done, you can't handle it, or you don't deserve it.
Set aside a little time each day, 10 minutes will do, to picture your perfect future. Get more and more comfortable with it, until it is real to you.
Expect excellence in the long run, but assume you will have some temporary setbacks. Don't let them stop your momentum and enthusiasm for what you hope to achieve. Finally, give the people involved the credit they deserve.
You'll get many benefits from this type of planning. Once your future is set, the decisions you need to make on a daily basis will become clearer choices. When you know where you are headed in the long run, you'll have less chance of taking a wrong turn. You'll be more focused on your current objectives, confident you are doing the right thing. You'll also have less anxiety and more time and energy for the next project at hand.
About the author:
Judy Camp has been a writer and marketing manager for twenty years, and has focused on web marketing for the past five years. Her web site http://www.ourbusinessoffice.com provides resources for web businesses.
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