Stop Setting Goals And Start Scheduling Them

With the start of a new year, it's tempting to take your annual goals and divide them by 12 to get your monthly targets. However, this approach rarely reflects reality.

Each month there will be different demands on you and your team’s time. There are months when multiple conferences or trips will reduce the amount of time you’re in the office. There are certain products like crop and health that will reduce the time you or certain team members have to focus on life or P&C goals. You might have a team that tends to take time off around a certain time of the year like hunting season, or spring breaks.

Embrace Intentional Imbalance

Instead of striving for perfect monthly consistency, embrace the reality that some months will be more productive than others. This "intentional imbalance" allows you to strategically plan around these fluctuations. For instance, you might try to hit your life goal in 10 months, leaving November and December to focus on your health goals. You might be out for two weeks in April for rewards trips, meaning your team needs to have a stronger month in April.

Here's a practical approach:

Define Your Monthly Minimum: Determine the absolute minimum your business needs to achieve each month. This might be your break-even point or a specific profit target. Collaborate with your Optimal Outcome Business Coach to establish this crucial benchmark.

• Map Out the Year:
  • Create a calendar and mark all significant events: holidays, vacations, conferences, and seasonal product launches.
  • Factor in your team's individual schedules, including known time-off periods.
  • Utilize an "Optimal Outcome controlling calendar" for a comprehensive overview.
     
• Prioritize Distraction-Prone Months:
  • Start by setting realistic goals for months with higher distractions (e.g., holiday seasons, vacation periods).
  • Ensure these goals at least meet your monthly minimum and consider if incremental increases are feasible.
     
• Allocate Remaining Goals:
  • Once you've accounted for the more challenging months, divide the remaining portion of your annual goal across the remaining months.
     

Benefits of This Approach:

• Reduced Overwhelm: By acknowledging and planning for inevitable fluctuations, you can avoid the constant pressure of meeting unrealistic monthly quotas.
• Improved Productivity: Knowing which months will be more challenging encourages proactive planning and resource allocation.
• Increased Accuracy: This approach leads to more realistic and achievable monthly goals, ultimately increasing the likelihood of achieving your annual objectives.

By embracing "intentional imbalance" and strategically scheduling your goals, you'll move beyond simply setting aspirations and begin to truly plan for success.