You are a boss. And you have a plan. I am so glad to hear it. But, you might have noticed that just having a big dream does not help you attain that elusive “someday.” It is so hard not to get overwhelmed or completely sidetracked when you are excited about a big dream. Usually, the end game is far enough in the future that finding doable and effective steps for today is difficult. But, without a plan to help you focus, it is way too easy to sidetrack with the “fun” parts of preparing or to mismanage time spending far too much on one area and none on another.
I have been so excited to start this blog for over a year now. I spent a lot of time researching, planning, and getting ready. But, the blog was a little overwhelming. Not only that, I had about 6 billion ideas and my fingers could not keep up with typing them all. Instead of working on a task until it was completed, I had about 30 minutes until I was completely sidetracked by another aspect of blogging. Obviously, I buckled down and began working more efficiently. What really helped me was to sit down and actually look at my goal, break it down, and begin scheduling it out. Breaking it into bite-sized pieces allowed me to focus because I wasn’t so overwhelmed by the whole process. I didn’t have to start the blog right now. I needed to write 3 blog posts and create graphics for them or learn how to set up a WordPress design. Ultimately, it took the stress out of it for me because I knew what I could do to make my dream happen.
When you have a five-year plan, or a big goal for your small business, or want to achieve a big dream, take some time to map out your journey. Knowing the destination is vital, but without the vehicle to get there, the road will be far more complicated and far less effective. So, how do you schedule big goals so that they will become “soon” instead of “someday?”
What is a long
Is there somewhere you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? Is there something you want to do, but know it will take a long time to get there? That is a long term goal. It is something, anything you see yourself accomplishing down the road. Long term goals can be tricky because they can be so distant that they are uncontrollable. For example, I would like to set money aside to save for my children’s college. But, since we don’t have children right now, and we cannot see what this will look like down the road, this is essentially an impossible goal. It is still rolling around in the back of my head, and I can take small steps towards it now, like paying off our own school loans, but there is no guarantee it will be reached.
That being said, long term goals can be a lot of fun as well. They can give you something fun on your horizon. And, whether you achieve them or not, they can give you a focus to work towards. Sometimes they are little more than hopes and dreams that get you through the day. Other times they are motivation for you to work on something today that could help you in the future.
Benefits of setting long term goals.
So, what are the benefits of setting a long term goal that you may never reach? There are actually a lot of benefits. Let’s list them, shall we?
- You have something to work towards.
- You can have a vision for your life or business.
- You can plan for positive things in your life.
- Long term goals help you focus on what is important to you.
- Long term goals can help you be more productive.
- Long term goals give you the motivation to move forward with your life.
I find long term goals to be one of the most motivating ways to get something done. But, I find it especially helpful when I have something I want to accomplish for my business or professional life. The biggest struggle is that I dream so big that I am always thinking “someday, someday, someday.” Don’t let the “someday” deter you. It will give you something to work towards. Breaking the goal into little steps will help you move forward on something that is very difficult or overwhelming.
5 steps to turn “someday” into “soon.”
Set clear goals.
It is possible to take a journey without knowing the destination. In fact, it can be a lot of fun sometimes. But, this is the kind of trip where you want to see Niagra Falls at the end. You cannot take too many side roads if you are going to get where you want to go. On these occasions, it is important to know exactly what you want. This doesn’t mean you cannot be flexible, but having a clear starting point can help guide you on the way.
So when you are ready to start working towards a long term goal, set some clear goals. Decide exactly what you want out of your goal and some of the main things you will need to do to get there. Write down these goals. We will use them later.
Break each goal down.
You want as many single tasks as you can from each goal. Don’t worry if you only have one or two tasks. As you learn about your goal, you will find new tasks that will need to be done. Sometimes, the tasks even grow as you work on them.
Work one step at a time and answer the questions:
I am a very big visionary, which is my fancy, feel-good word for getting distracted by a million new, big, and, may I say, excellent ideas. If you are finding a hard time focusing down on your current goal, ask yourself:
- What do I need to do now to accomplish this goal?
- What do I need to do later?
Start writing down every single thing you think you need to do to get to your goal. This is more of a brainstorming session, so you don’t need to be organized or follow an order. Make sure to mark which things need to be done immediately and which things can be pushed back to a later time. If you are just starting out and don’t know many steps you will need to accomplish, write down what you know you need to do. As you work on your goal, you will find more tasks to add to this list. Unfortunately, that is the way it goes. But the plan is worth it to get the ball rolling.
Get out your calendar.
Start to assign tasks to each month. Then, break it down further by assigning tasks to each week or day. If it is something that has to be done earlier, assign it to a closer month/time. If it is something to be done later, assign it to a later month/time.
Be realistic about how much time tasks will take. I am unequivocally optimistic about how long something is going to take me. But, you can save yourself a lot of frustration by knowing yourself and keeping it real about the time tasks take.
Break it down by week.
This step is not for the faint of heart. Nor for those who get overwhelmed by a routine. If you get down on yourself for not sticking exactly to your routine, this step might be a little overwhelming. You can skip this step. Instead, you can stick to the generalized list above and just choose what you have time to get done each day/week. I am a list person, but if you are not, this step can do more harm than help.
But, if you thrive on routine and love lists, if you are highly motivated by crossing things off a list, this step is for you.
Once you have assigned each task to a month, begin to schedule it out into weeks. Remember, be realistic about your time!!! (Yes, that is three exclamation points. It’s important, people.) This is so important because when you are not realistic, you don’t finish tasks. Then the tasks load up on the next week, etc. Start by scheduling the tasks that take the longest. Really spread them thinly so you can accomplish them all. Then fill in time with the shorter tasks.
Be Flexible
This may sound like a complete oxymoron compared to what we just talked about. But,
Do not be afraid to start
Courage, my friend. Long term goals can be scary because there is so much room for something to go wrong. But, instead of focusing on all the bad things that might happen or how much you have to get done, create a plan to help yourself along. Stay strong, and if something unexpected pops up, remember, you are not alone. I am here, cheering you on, as I work around my own frustrations and failings trying to pursue my biggest dreams.
Get out there, and make your goals a reality!! I would love to support you as you work towards your goal. What your long-term goal or dream? Do you have a plan about how you are going to get there? Is there something that is tripping you up as you work towards it? Let me know by leaving a comment. I would love to help and cheer you on. I know you are going to do amazing things.