How to Set Your Business Goals for 2018

The year is coming to an end and it's time for a moment of reflection. How close are you to hitting your goal this year and where were you this time last year? Are you guilty of setting lame, mediocre goals? There is a right way and a wrong way to set your business goals.

Matthew Ferrara, real estate mogul, keynote speaker, and consultant, has some serious tips for how to go about and set your business goals. These best practices for goal setting will help get you to where you envision yourself and your business to be, because when you care, you succeed.

First, take time to clarify your goals.

Matthew says, "Don't start with a dollar figure. But, instead ask yourself, 'What is the reward for all of your hard work?' Maybe there are personal goals like saving for your retirement or putting your kids through college. Maybe it's a professional goal such as being the best in your marketplace. Whatever those goals are, and they might change over time, you need to sit down and clarify those goals." Focus on rewards first.

Next: What will it take to reach that goal?

This is where your numbers start to come in. How much revenue do you need to generate? What about in units? How many sellers/buyers does that mean? What's the price point? Once you've figured these out, you can find the system that helps make them a reality. As Matthew says, "The right system will go to work for you."

The right system will:

• Take a look at historical data
• Analyze your current pipeline of contacts and prospects
• Give you a current status
• Help you build out a plan for success

You can expect some of the plans for success to include how many people you need to add to your sphere or actions the system can take care of for you, like automated emailing or creating marketing tools. "The best systems don't just organize your information. They need to activate them and help you work through that information using a process that is aimed at your goals."

Bring focus: Accountability starts with you

You need to be able to see your goal every single day. You need to see how the actions you're making are generating the results necessary to reach the goal. Also, the technology you use should show other steps needed in order to attain said goal if you aren't doing enough as is. This kind of information helps you with: Budgeting and planning, managing expenses, highlighting gaps in your projections, comparing current performance to previous time periods, and focus on tasks and goals.

To summarize:

• Goals are critical.
• Focus on the rewards then determine revenue necessary. Then take a look at the work required to generate the revenue.
• Connect your goals to your systems. Make sure your plan is driven by the right data that guides you step by step to the goal.
• Always be measuring progress. Make sure your system helps you keep an eye on your own progress, not just daily tasks.

If you'd like, you can watch the entire video on how to set your business goals for 2018 here. If it's financial guidance you're seeking, we have a recorded webinar for you to watch here.

So, what are you waiting for? Hit the ground running in 2018 with goals and grit beside you! Trust us, your future self will thank you for doing this.

To view the original article, visit the Moxi Works blog.