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You’ve set your SMART goals. You’ve written them down. You’ve discussed them with a mentor. You’ve shared them with friends and family. You’re working hard. You care deeply about your “why” and you’re excited about the future.
...But why aren’t you where you want to be?
Let’s take a look at eleven ways that you might be holding yourself back from achieving your goals.
1. You’re not staying with problems long enough. Giving up too soon is a surefire way to never reach your goals. If you’re throwing in the towel or retreating to your comfort zone every time you start to struggle, you’re hurting your chances of success and missing out on key opportunities to take steps forward toward your goals.
2. You’re only doing the right things SOME of the time. Consistency and self-discipline are the name of the game. You can’t expect to achieve your goals with any efficiency if you haven’t developed the right habits. You might be working really hard in the short term, but if you keep pumping the breaks, you’re only tiring out the engine and slowing yourself down.
3. You’re sweating the small stuff. Every time you lose your attitude, you’re moving in the wrong direction. If you don’t have thick skin, you’ll go down an emotional rabbit hole whenever you face failure or frustration. Doing so only diverts your attention away from what’s most important and drains the precious energy you need to stay motivated and keep pushing.
4. You’re avoiding the stuff you don’t want to do. We all have tasks we’d rather not tackle, conversations we’ve been putting off, and areas of professional development that we’ve been hesitant to address. But oftentimes, the things we’re avoiding are the things we most need to do. If you haven’t hit your goals yet, it might just be because you’re not stepping up. Adopt a sense of urgency by giving yourself smaller time-bound goals that will help you move the needle as you battle your procrastination.
5. You lack self-awareness. If you want to improve in any area of your life, it begins with looking in the mirror. Many people end up stagnant because they blame their lack of progress on outside factors instead of understanding their own role in their successes and failures. Once you see yourself clearly and lose the excuses, you’ll be able to focus on self-improvement and start taking the right steps towards your long term goals.
6. You’re not planning your days and weeks. When you’ve got big goals to hit, every minute counts. By not planning ahead, you are not only wasting time, but you are leaving space for lower priority tasks to crowd out the ones that will make the biggest impact on your advancement. Make time management a priority to make room in your schedule for things like professional learning and development which can help you build skills you'll need to finally achieve your goals.
7. You’ve been too focused on just yourself. It sounds counter-intuitive, but sometimes focusing too much on your own career goals can set you back -- especially if you’re working in a team-oriented environment. You’ll find that if you prioritize helping your team hit their goals, that you will in turn hit your own. By sharing your knowledge and skills with others, you'll reinforce your own strengths while you help others achieve their own personal goals.
8. You’re not receptive to coaching. If your pride is more important than your professional development, your progress will inevitably be slow. If you want to hit your goals sooner than later, it is essential to listen to your mentors and make the changes they recommend.
9. You’re not working hard enough. If your goals are big, then your effort has to be huge. You can’t expect to accomplish anything great if you’re not giving 100% each day. You might already be working really hard, but sometimes that little bit extra is what’s needed to push you over the edge.
10. You’re surrounded by the wrong people. If you find yourself regularly associating with naysayers and Negative Nancys, it’s going to inevitably chip away at your morale. When you’ve got big performance goals to hit, you need every ounce of energy and positivity you can get. People tend to emulate the people they spend the most time with -- so choose to spend time with only those who are helping you achieve your goals and not setting you back.
11. Success takes time. Never underestimate the role that time plays in reaching your goals. You need to patiently, but persistently, persevere and trust that if you do the right things, you’ll get where you want to be.
As frustrating as it may be to not have achieved your goals yet, it’s important to remember that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Professional development is a lengthy process, but as soon as you recognize the reasons why you haven’t hit your specific goals and start to make the right changes, you’ll be that much closer to the finish line.
Have you taken the time to ponder what you really want in life? Is there a bigger picture that drives you – a future that you feel deeply passionate about? Do you know what will give you an ultimate sense of peace and fulfillment? People find their internal motivations in a variety of ways, whether it’s focusing on providing for the ones they love most, envisioning the life they’d like to build for themselves, overcoming personal challenges and weaknesses, or conquering ambitious goals. Whatever you choose as your personal internal motivation, it has to be something that truly matters to you. Have you clarified your “why?”
#1: When you know your “why,” you have a reason to jump out of bed each morning.
Nothing is more mobilizing than having a purpose. It’s arguably better than a bucket of cold water being splashed on your face. When you have a compelling vision for your future as your internal motivation, you can’t help but to get up, get moving, and do all you can to have a productive day―even when no one’s standing there ready to pour.
#2: When you know your “why,” you develop successful habits.
Anyone who’s serious about their big picture goals wants to achieve them sooner rather than later, so they don’t have time for bad habits. People with a “why” design their day to day lives to lead them towards the future they want. They realize that since success isn’t achieved overnight, the fastest way to get to their goals is to remain self-disciplined throughout the week.
#3: When you know your “why,” you stay the course.
People who know where they’re going don’t just turn the car around and go home when they see a road block. That would only delay their ETA! They’ve got somewhere to be and they have every intention of getting there―no matter what challenges they face along the journey.
#4: When you know your “why,” you’re a stronger leader.
Everyone likes to follow someone who knows where they’re going―particularly since so many people don’t. When you’re on a mission for greatness, you attract like-minded people who are excited about joining you on your journey. Your contagious passion will make you a compelling leader who others will happily get behind.
#5: When you know your “why,” you’re more comfortable with sacrifice.
No one necessarily likes the idea of giving up one thing in order to have another―but there’s no such thing as actually “having it all.” The thing about making sacrifices, though, is that it’s all in the eye of the beholder. If you aren’t passionate about specific end goals, you’ll feel resentful about what you’re giving up. But if you are―when you really know your “why” and are grounded in your internal motivation―you’ll be ready and willing to do whatever it takes to acquire the things you want the most. As Friedrich Nietzsche said, “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
#6: When you know your “why,” you avoid unnecessary regret.
When you don’t have a grand plan, it’s easy to end up somewhere you don’t want to be. And the tricky part is that most people don’t know it until they’re already there. You can avoid looking back with anguish by making choices that are in sync with your greater vision. Connecting the dots from the short term to the long term will prevent loads of haphazard decisions that you’ll wish you didn’t make.
#7: When you know your “why,” you don’t get burned out.
When you’re passionate about your vision and truly driven by your internal motivation, all of your hard work is for an important cause. Even when the hustle gets exhausting, you know that you’re building towards the future you want. Your burning desire to get there provides the fuel you need to keep going.
#8: When you know your “why,” you’re a happier person.
Living a meaningful life is one the absolute best ways to become a happier, more positive person. When you care deeply about your end goals and you get to chip away at them every day, you can’t help but to feel grateful and excited about what’s to come.
If you’ve just finished reading this and you’ve realized “I don’t know my why!” don’t worry. Make it a priority to sit down with a mentor or wise friend to dig deep about what you want for your future.
If you’re someone who knows your “why,” tell us in the comments below! We’d love to hear what drives you and how your vision has helped you in your career.
What do you call an accomplishment that isn’t preceded by a set of goals?
A lucky break!
Setting goals is an essential stepping stone leading to any achievement. Goals set direction, allow you to maintain focus, and reflect a reachable destination. But be careful: If you make those stepping stones too slippery with misdirected purpose or too far apart with unrealistic expectations, you won’t get any closer to your dream. In fact, you may fall off the path completely. Here’s a list of common goal setting mistakes—and how to avoid them.
Don't be Unrealistic
While goals should certainly be challenging and effortful to achieve, they should not be completely out of the realm of possibility. For instance, you might set the goal to complete a marathon. On the way to pursuing that goal, however, you need to ramp up your endurance in increments. Attempting to run 26.2 miles without properly training is just setting yourself up for failure. Rather, plan a training schedule that will get you in optimum shape for the race. As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, “A goal properly set is halfway reached.”
Don't Overlook the Details
Have a bigger plan. If you’re setting goals to get promoted to manager by next year, there are probably many things you need to accomplish to make that happen, not just one. Think of your goals as part of a larger plan, not just arbitrary numbers. Seeking to become an author? Start by writing shorter pieces, investigating the publishing process, joining a writer’s group, and taking the steps for bigger success.
Don't Give Up After a Few Setbacks
Remember that failures are essential to growth and success. Anything worth accomplishing will probably come with its fair share of hurdles. The key to avoiding this goal setting mistake is how you handle those setbacks and the lessons you take from them.
Don't Stifle Your Passion
Set goals that you truly care to reach. Setting goals is personal, and you shouldn’t set goals solely based on what other people want or expect of you. Accept advice from well-meaning people, but avoid adopting their views as your own without doing some real soul searching. To achieve a significant goal, you’ll need ample passion and commitment, and that comes from setting goals you care about.
Don't Ignore the Journey While Focusing on the End Result
Remember that goals aren’t just about where you end up—they are also about the growth you experience along the way. If you are not paying attention to the progress you’re making against your goal, you could be left scrambling at the last minute—another recipe for failure.
Don't Overfill Your Plate
Setting an abundance of goals can sap your energy. While you want to make sure you’re focusing on all the right things, trying to achieve too many different things within the same period of time can feel scattershot and unfocused. Instead of making this goal setting mistake, and taking on seven or eight goals and then struggling to juggle them, hone in on three or four big goals and crush them.
As best-selling author Seth Godin says, “Everybody has their own Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.” So while you aim high, keep this list of DON’Ts close to keep you grounded. Soon, you will find yourself reaching new heights. If you set challenging goals that are right-sized, you will be well on your way to achieving your dreams.
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” - Robert F. Kennedy
Growing up, we learned that all failures are bad. So when we did fail, it hung over our heads as an unpleasant reminder of what happens when we try something new. But failure can be good when we learn from it, and embracing the “fail fast and fail often” mentality, which focuses on risk-taking and innovation, can turn one step backward into two steps forward. Failure is a powerful teacher. It shows us what doesn’t work, so we can more quickly find our way to what does. Failing in sales and business can often be an effective and even necessary route to mastering the art of the pitch and closing more deals.
Learning from failure is a powerful skill that takes confidence in our abilities and strength to admit fault. Here are some strategies to turn a setback into a comeback:
Don’t Worry About What You Can’t Control
You can’t change what’s out of your control, and worrying about it will only make things worse. Take stock of what you can control, such as your planning and skillset, and use it to re-evaluate your process to prepare for a better outcome.
Own it
Everybody fails. Own it and forgive yourself, then learn from it and turn this negative into a positive. The best thing to do is to be honest with yourself and set your mind on improving, and the only way you can truly do that is taking responsibility for the missed opportunity.
Revise the Plan
Before you set out, what was your plan? Often times, the cause of failure is a simple oversight or misplaced effort in the planning phase. Focus on everything that happened before the failure and see what can be changed; there may be one or two things you could’ve done that’ll seem obvious with hindsight.
Seek an Outside Perspective
Sometimes we’re unable to see the cause of our failure because we lived it. An outside perspective from someone you trust, such as a mentor who is in a better position to see where things went wrong, might provide helpful guidance. Be open and honest with them about your failure; it’ll make you feel better to talk about it, and your mentor will respect you for seeking honest feedback and learning from it.
Believe in Yourself
Something went wrong, so trust yourself to make it right. It’s too easy to dwell on failure and beat ourselves into submission. A failure doesn’t make you a failure if you learn from it. Believe in your abilities and your strength to move forward because you will get better. Take risks. Expand your comfort zone. One day, you’ll look back on this and be glad it happened because it made you realize your true potential.
Try Again
The worst thing to do after a failure is stop trying. Failure can be a gift when it provides insights that help you perform better on the next attempt. When you give up, you waste that valuable information. Learn, grow, and keep moving, and this time you might just win big. There’s only one way to find out.
Setbacks are stressful, and can keep us from chasing our goals if we let them, but the courage to own it and learn from failure helps us pivot onto stronger ground for new opportunities. Millionaires and celebrities are no strangers to this; they’ve all experienced failure. Can you imagine if Steven Spielberg quit making movies after being rejected from film school? The most important thing to do after a failure is to learn from it and try again.
With the help of these strategies, your feelings of failure will subside and you’ll become even more confident in reaching your goals.
When asked about New Year’s resolutions, common responses are losing weight, getting a new job, and saving more money. For entrepreneurs, the answer is more complicated as business New Year’s resolutions require greater specificity and accountability, and the motivation to see them through.
As you and your team plan for the year ahead, consider these six, actionable business New Year’s resolutions:
1. Connect with More Customers
A new year means new opportunities to connect with more customers and grow your business. Learn as much as you can about them from social media, analytics platforms, internet forums, and blogs. Check in with existing customers and get feedback for improvement. Your customers will appreciate your proactive interest in them, and in turn, you’ll be on track to strengthen relationships and build new ones.
2. Communicate More Effectively
Miscommunication wastes time and affects morale. Nobody likes repeating themselves, and time spent clarifying is better spent knocking out approaching deadlines. Save time and help your team feel heard by asking for feedback and advice on what works best for them. Whether it’s less emails for more one-on-ones, or using a productivity tool, effective internal communication helps make all other goals seem more possible.
3. Learn a New Skill
Successful people are always learning; their student mentality keeps them open to new perspectives and innovation. Whether it’s to benefit your work or fuel a passion project, learning a new skill will help boost your confidence and give more opportunities to network with others in classes and workshops.
4. Make Time for Yourself
Running a business is hard, but it’s harder when you’re burnt out. Resolve to make time for yourself this year and set expectations with clients and colleagues, even if it’s only for a lunch break or turning your phone off after dinner. Often, complicated tasks become less complicated when you’re feeling refreshed. Taking time off allows your mind the room it needs to wander and connect the dots in unexpected ways.
5. Expand Your Comfort Zone
Make an effort to take more calculated risks and tackle different projects. It seems daunting, but the benefits far outweigh the intimidation. Expanding your comfort zone creates room for real growth and empowers you to chase new opportunities for your team, your business, and your clients. Plus, it shows that you’re versatile and bold, who wouldn’t want to do business with someone like that?
6. Set More SMART Goals
Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely goal setting is how successful people get large projects done. That also goes for New Year’s resolutions, which have a tendency to get dropped around January 7th. Keep your business New Year’s resolutions on track this year by setting more SMART goals, and ask your friend how that gym membership is coming.
When brainstorming your resolutions, reflect on these powerful business quotes for the New Year:
Mark Twain
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret to getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and then starting on the first one."
Ben Stein
"The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.”
Peter F. Drucker
“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.”
Oprah Winfrey
“Step out of the history that is holding you back. Step into the new story you are willing to create.”
As you go into the New Year, effectively manage your resolutions by ensuring they stay top of mind. Consider printing them out and giving everyone a copy, and sending reminders when appropriate. Although these are business New Year’s resolutions and quotes, the advice is timeless and will help inspire greater work across a variety of teams.
Most highly successful people share one important trait: focus. They know what their purpose is and what they want to achieve, and everything they do and say aims to bring them closer to their goals. But maintaining that intense level of dedication and drive takes effort.
When striving toward any goal, it’s important to find ways to remind yourself why that goal is so important to you so you can stay focused. Creating a personal mission statement gives you a way to identify your values, commit to your goals, and put yourself on a path toward success.
QUESTIONS FOR CREATING A PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
To create your own personal mission statement, start by asking yourself these questions:
THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
There are many benefits to creating a mission statement to help you reach your goals:
PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENTS FROM NAMES YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE
High achievers in many industries live by a personal mission statement. Here are a few:
Gary Polson, CEO, Cydcor
“As CEO of Cydcor, I will assure the long-term growth and health of Cydcor and the opportunity by 1) attracting, developing, motivating and recognizing our people; 2) developing a culture of sustainable success; 3) overseeing the strategy; 4) focusing on the financial health of the field; and 5) building relationships with our key people and connecting with the newer people.”
Richard Branson, CEO, The Virgin Group
“To have fun in (my) journey through life and learn from (my) mistakes.” (Motivated Magazine, 2011)
Oprah Winfrey, CEO OWN
“To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be.” (Oprah.com, 2009)
Amanda Steinberg, CEO, Dailyworth.com
“To use my gifts of intelligence, charisma, and serial optimism to cultivate the self-worth and net-worth of women around the world.” (Forbes, 2014)
Creating a personal mission statement is just one more way you can position yourself to reach your goals. Writing down your goals, values, and vision for your future is a form of commitment in itself, but creating a mission statement does not guarantee success. In order to make your mission statement work to your benefit, you must imbue it with importance. Whether daily, weekly, or monthly, check in with and remind yourself of your mission statement to keep yourself faithful to its message. Consider keeping it by your bedside, taped to your bathroom mirror, or posted at your desk. You could even use your mission statement as part of your social media profile as way to subtly invite others to hold you accountable as well.
While the act of creating a personal mission statement can help you learn a lot, committing to its message could help you transform it from words into reality.
Grit is a mysterious and powerful mix of passion and perseverance that gives some the strength to keep going where so many others before them have given up. In fact, studies have shown that grit may outrank either intelligence or talent as an indicator of future success. Salespeople know a lot about grit. They work in a competitive business, but for those with the grit to stick with it, the rewards can be huge. The best salespeople know that grit can be the secret ingredient that makes the difference between success and failure.
Intelligence and talent are huge advantages in business that can help you innovate, perform well, or solve problems. Without the grit to stay the course even when it gets bumpy, those advantages can be fleeting. Brains and natural ability are the reason many people are good at their jobs, but without the grit to overcome challenges, bounce back from stumbles, and the drive to push themselves further, they may never truly be great.
Distractions are everywhere! Sometimes it’s hard to believe anyone can get anything accomplished when friends can reach us at any time on our mobile phones, social media notifications nag us to check in, and a 24-hour news cycle means there’s always something new and interesting just one Google search away. But focus, like exercise, eating right, and flossing, is just another habit. It’s a behavior we need to constantly practice and hone, and it IS something we can train our busy brains to do better.
Staying focused at work is something almost everyone struggles with. It’s not an easy thing when everything in our lives seems to be designed to grab our attention. But focus is something you can learn to do better. Start with the tricks above and take it slow. Even if you can only concentrate for five or ten minutes at a time in the beginning, just continue to work at it, and in no time at all, your brain will start to build the defenses it needs to banish distractions for good.
As an entrepreneur without a set work schedule, it can be hard to organize your week consistently. But organization is key to success. At Cydcor, we want you to enjoy your work and be successful at it, so here are some tips to go about getting your week organized and meeting your goals.
Schedule tomorrow today. The most successful leaders sit down at the end of their day and figure out what needs to be done the next day. Instead of thinking of nebulous goals—as in “This is what I need to do tomorrow, and I’ll try to get it done”—they use their calendar to schedule specific times to accomplish those tasks.
Know what times of day are best for you. If you’re the most creative early in the morning, it makes sense to stick to rituals that require a novel approach in the morning. If, on the other hand, it takes you a while to get into work mode, take the time to get some exercise and get your brain in gear for the day. You’ll be the most successful at meeting your goals when your energy level is high and you feel the most confident, so schedule your most important tasks for that time of the day.
Work with the week’s natural rhythm. Research suggests that there is a natural energy flow related to the workweek. Instead of fighting it, go with that flow for maximum productivity. On Monday, instead of having that big team meeting, schedule low-demand tasks. Set your goals, plan your appointments and organize your office. On Tuesday and Wednesday, during the peak of energy, take on the most difficult projects, brainstorm, and write. On Thursday, hold meetings as energy begins to ebb. Then, on Friday, when energy level is lowest, do your long-term planning, relationship building, and other open-ended projects.
Make time for creative tasks. Jeremiah Dillon, head of product marketing at Google Apps for Work, suggests that you build “Make Time” -which is the time to implement your creative processes- into your calendar. Make Time is critical when you’re doing creative tasks or doing some serious thinking before you start building. It’s as important as any meeting or sales call. Be sure to enter those Make Time blocks in your calendar so your colleagues don’t disturb you during this process.
Use the right tools to get organized. The calendar associated with your email client can be your best friend. Software like Evernote can be used for “brain dumps,” and help you set your annual, quarterly, and weekly goals. Use Google Keep, Asana, or Wunderlist for your to-do list; it feels great to check off items that have been accomplished.
What tips do you have for organizing your workweek? Share them with Cydcor on Twitter @Cydcor.
We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services located in Agoura Hills, CA. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.
If you’re smart about how you manage your workday, you will find the extra hours you need to get more done. We support our employees and sales associates, and encourage them to find opportunities for innovation and improving processes. Cydcor even finds opportunities to model these behaviors for our daughters and sons. As you unpack your habits and routines, don’t judge yourself for procrastinating or struggling to reach your goals. Instead, make an effort to apply some of the following tips to help you improve your productivity. Eventually, you will create a new routine that will allow you to be more productive.
Rethink Your Routines
How much time do you spend getting your morning coffee? Checking and responding to email? It’s easy to convince yourself that you must read, react, respond, and reply to every single email. Review your daily routines to determine if you’re using your time efficiently. Cut ten minutes out of 3 of your daily routines by removing inefficient practices and you’ll already have found 30 extra minutes in your day. Use these intelligence-boosting strategies to improve your problem solving skills and come up with even more time saving strategies.
Organize Your Mind and Workspace
You’ll get more done at work if your mind and workspace are well organized. Commit to working on each task for 20 minutes. Use a timer on your phone, watch, or computer. After 20 minutes, check your messages. Politely inform your coworkers that you’re trying a new technique for getting things done so that they are able to respect your focus time instead of interrupting it. They may even decide they like the idea and begin to use it themselves.
Identify Your Most Important Tasks
At the end of the workday, identify your most important tasks for the next day. Review each of tasks and break them down into component tasks. This way, when you get to work the next day, you will know exactly what needs your attention and will get to spend time on your most crucial tasks right from the start of your day. Schedule time at home the night before to review your list of things to do and you’ll wake up feeling fresh and ready to rumble.
Getting more done in the same amount of time is hard work. Ask your coworkers and supervisors for their suggestions. Once you do that, you’ll have started a productive conversation that will result in better outcomes for everyone.
What are your secrets for getting more done in the same amount of time? Share your tips or photos on Twitter and follow us @Cydcor.
We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.
What worked this year? What didn’t work? These two questions provide a framework that will improve your performance in the coming year.
Do you have a plan for setting and achieving goals in next year? A personal review of your past year will uncover winning strategies that deserve to be carried forward into the coming year—and those that can be left behind. Conduct an annual review of your performance at work with the following techniques.
Write It Down
Record your observations as you conduct your annual review so you’ll have something to refer back to later. A simple Excel worksheet allows you to organize the past year’s wins and losses month by month. Or, if you prefer to write by hand, Moleskine notebooks are well-made—and can work with Livescribe smartpens to translate your notes into digital content.
Look For Significant Events
Be cautious with granularity. Looking too closely at the past year can cause more issues than it will solve, distracting you from the larger picture. Stay focused on identifying significant events and strategies that impacted your performance.
Create Specific Goals
When planning for next year, create specific goals. Don’t just say you want to make more money or “get better at” something. What will you actually do to make more money? What does “getting better” at something look like? You need to be able to measure your progress toward these goals in a concrete way.
Make a plan and follow up on each step. Use the following categories to establish specific goals for the New Year.
Did you achieve your goals during this year, or did you fall short of your expectations? Have you conducted an annual review and planned for the new year? Comment here, tell your story on Twitter, and follow us @Cydcor. Share this article with your friends and start a conversation with your community. #cydcorlearnandgrow
We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada, to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.