Setting goals is serious business. But here’s the thing with goals -and something I’m willing to admit I’ve done more than once – when you’re setting goals, it’s easy to set goals that you think you should want. Or goals that are befitting the stage of your life or business. Or goals that seem like a good idea just because.
But goals only work if you give a shit about them. If they serve you. If you actually care about them.
When you set a bullshit goal that’s external, you set yourself up for a complete mindf*ck as you work to accomplish them. Because it quickly seems pointless. Or like you’ve sold out. Or it just feels off and you can’t put your finger on it.
So, what do you do instead? Here are a few things to help you set goals you can give a shit about, and even deeply care about, so you’re steering your boat in the right direction.
#1. Ditch the Six Figure Shame For Good
Listen up. I’d like to know who in this entrepreneurial online world decided that six figures was the magical annual revenue number to reach.
Six figures, making 100k a year, has become an artificial measure of “I made it”. It’s the thing we’re told we are supposed to want. That we must accomplish to be a success.
Wrong. I don’t have any problem with anyone wanting to make $100k or even a million bucks. I really and truly don’t. But don’t let someone shame you into thinking you’re not “making it” unless you’re making six figures.
For some perspective here, a household income of $100,000 a year puts you in the top 23% in the U.S. That means you’re way above average – so why is that some BS measure of “making it”?
It’s utter nonsense.
Instead, think for yourself and don’t feel bad about where you are. Most people don’t have the balls to go out on their own and make it. So, in my books, if you’re running your own business and paying your bills, you’ve already made it.
From here, it’s up to you to decide what works for you. Not a coach. Not a dude in a FB ad. And definitely no one who’s trying to sell you the next “big” shiny object course to help you make more.
Don’t buy into the shame. Never apologize for where you’re at. It’s a journey, and where you are right now is just right.
#2. Get Clear on What You Really Want
A couple of years ago, I wrote a post about how sick I was of the six figure obsession. I experienced some backlash from that post in a big way. I was told that I was jealous, experiencing a lack mentality and a whole host of other things.
Those people missed the point. And my point then, and it’s true now, is that my goals aren’t your goals. And my life isn’t your life. And most of all, how much I make living in rural Ontario shouldn’t be compared to someone living in San Diego or New York.
Your goals should align with what you want in your business and your life.
A few questions I like to ask myself (and that I ask clients):
- How much money do you need to live comfortably?
- If you were to make money, what will you do with that money?
- What are you willing to give up or do to make more money?
- Why do you want to make more money?
- Do your money/business goals align with how you want to feel?
- How can you feel like you want now, without that money?
- How do these goals fit with your core values?
Working through those questions, it helps you wade through what you truly want, what you think you should want and what are just money story/hangups you have.
Wanting to make more or have more isn’t a bad thing. We should never apologize for ambition, but it should be built on a foundation that’s based on your core values and has real meaning.
Otherwise that cash in your bank account isn’t going to mean a damn thing.
#3. Don’t Give in to the Culture of Consumption
If you’ve worked online for a hot minute you know exactly what I’m talking about. There’s ALWAYS something you can buy to fix your problems/make you better/magically summon up a dancing line of unicorns throwing glitter in the air.
There’s no shortage of things to consume. Things to buy. Things to “invest” in to make your business better.
In my first year of my online business, I spent a lot of money. More money than I’d ever invested into my business. Some of it was necessary to make the move online, but a lot of it I might as well have thrown on a table and set into flames. It was a complete and utter waste.
Why? I didn’t need it. I bought it for the wrong reasons. I fell prey to marketing that caused me a raging case of FOMO (aka fear of missing out.)
It happens to all of us. But if you’re going to set goals that matter to you, you need to get your head screwed on when it comes to consuming more, more, more in a bid to grow your business.
You know what grows your business? Making the kind of investments that give you real ROI and help you be more profitable.
Investing in your business is absolutely necessary.
But you need to do it with a plan and do your homework. Avoid the trigger finger on sales pages late at night or when you’re oddly unsettled and you think this will fill some unnamed need you’re experiencing. (Um, not that I’ve ever done that…)
And for the love of wifi, please make sure you’re not investing so much back into your business that you’re making less than minimum wage. (Which in my province is $11.25/hour and I’m confident a lot of entrepreneurs aren’t even paying themselves that much.)
Get back to basics with setting your goals and keep in mind what really matters. You’ll actually give a shit about your goals and be much more apt to want to make them a reality.
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