Practical tips for achieving your goals

Are you feeling stuck in the weeds of your business? Are you struggling to grow and scale, despite putting in long hours and hard work? If so, you're not alone. Many online business owners face these challenges at some point in their journey.

One thing I've noticed is that the more you focus on your goals, the more likely you are to achieve them. It's like that saying, "what you focus on grows". As a fractional DOO for clients, I've seen firsthand how powerful this concept can be. Here are some practical tips to help you stay focused and achieve your goals.

Set Specific Goals

One of the most important steps in achieving your goals is to set specific, measurable, and achievable goals. You should know exactly what you want to achieve and when you want to achieve it. This clarity helps you to focus on what matters most, and it keeps you on track.

Let's say you are an online business owner who wants to increase your revenue. You might think your goal is to "make more money," but that does not clearly state what you want to achieve. How would you judge if you had succeeded at the goal or not? A better goal might be to "increase revenue by 20% in the next six months." This goal is specific, measurable, and has a clear timeline. Having a precise number to aim for helps you stay focused and motivated.

It's important to set goals that are challenging but achievable. If your goal is too easy, you won't be motivated to work towards it. On the other hand, if your goal is too difficult, you might become discouraged and give up.

Once you have set a specific goal, you can break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks, like this example:

• Increase my website traffic

• Improve my conversion rate

• Expand my customer base

• Improve customer retention

Each of these tasks can be broken down further into smaller, more specific steps. Adding timelines to these tasks creates a roadmap for achieving your goal. Here’s what you might write down under increasing website traffic:

• Optimize my website for search engines (month 1 - should start researching this now)

• Develop a content marketing strategy (month 2 - perhaps I need to consult a marketing strategist)

• Use social media to promote my content and drive traffic to my site (month 3)

• Run paid advertising campaigns (month 4)

Breaking down your goals prevents you from becoming overwhelmed. It also allows you to measure your progress as you work and make adjustments as needed.

Stay Focused

With so many distractions and competing priorities in your business, you need to identify the key tasks and activities that will help you achieve your goals and prioritize them above everything else. One practical way to stay focused is to create a daily or weekly to-do list that outlines your top priorities. Be sure to include the specific actions and tasks you need to take to achieve your goals.

For example, let's say your goal is to launch a new product in your online store. Your to-do list might include:

• Research and finalize product design

• Develop marketing materials and product descriptions

• Take product photos

• Set up the product page on your website

• Run a social media ad campaign to promote the launch

Once you have your to-do list, it's important to prioritize your tasks. One helpful method is the Eisenhower Matrix, which categorizes tasks based on importance and urgency. Urgent tasks are ones that have immediate consequences, while an important task is one that needs your specific skills to contribute to your long-term success.

Using this framework, what can you do to stay focused?

• By focusing on your top (important) tasks first, you can make sure you're making progress towards your goals every day.

• Spending time on the planning activities in the top left can reduce the number of urgent events you’ll have.

• Eliminate the distractions in the bottom left. This might mean turning off notifications on your phone, blocking social media sites during work hours, or working in a quiet, distraction-free environment.

Create Clear Boundaries

Creating clear boundaries is essential for maintaining your focus and avoiding burnout in your online business. This means setting limits on your time, energy, and resources, and communicating those limits to others.

One practical way to create clear boundaries is to establish a set schedule for your workday. This could mean designating specific hours for working on your business (such as 9am to 5pm every weekday) and then committing to unplug and focus on other activities outside of those hours. It's important to stick to your schedule as much as possible, unless there is an emergency, to avoid overworking and burnout.

Another way to create clear boundaries is to say "no" to commitments that aren't aligned with your goals or values. This might mean turning down a collaboration opportunity that doesn't fit with your business' mission, declining an invitation to a social event that conflicts with your work schedule, or turning away clients that don’t fit your target audience.

Finally, it's important to communicate your boundaries clearly with others. This could mean setting expectations with clients, employees, or even family members, about when you're available and what you're able to commit to. By communicating your boundaries clearly and consistently, you can avoid misunderstandings and ensure that others respect your time and energy.

Develop Self-Discipline

To achieve your goals, you need self-discipline. This skill takes patience and persistence. Developing self-discipline is a lifelong process and every step you take towards greater discipline will bring you closer to your goals. Self-discipline involves doing what needs to be done, even when you don't feel like it. Make a habit of showing up and putting in the work. Here are some practical tips:

• Establish a routine. One of the best ways to develop self-discipline is to establish a daily routine that includes time for work, exercise, and self-care. By sticking to a consistent schedule, you can train your brain to be more disciplined and focused.

• Start small. Setting achievable goals can help you stay motivated and disciplined. Start with small goals that are easy to achieve and gradually work your way up to bigger goals. Celebrate your successes along the way, and use them as motivation to keep going.

• Avoid distractions. Distractions can derail your focus and make it harder to develop self-discipline. One way to avoid distractions is to turn off your phone and other electronic devices during work hours. You can also use productivity tools like time-blocking or the Pomodoro technique to stay focused and avoid distractions.

• Hold yourself accountable. One way to do this is to track your progress and hold yourself accountable for achieving your goals. You can use a journal or a productivity app to track your progress and hold yourself accountable.

Celebrate Your Progress

Don't forget to have fun! Celebrate your successes and enjoy the journey. Being an entrepreneur is hard work, but it should also be rewarding and enjoyable. For example, if you reach a milestone like hitting a revenue target or launching a new product, take time to celebrate with your team and clients. Enjoy the moment and use it as motivation to keep pushing forward.

You're gonna face setbacks on the way to your goals. To succeed, you need to be resilient. Bounce back from setbacks and stay focused on your goals. For example, if you face a setback like a project delay or a negative review, don't let it derail you. Take some time to regroup, learn from the experience, and keep moving forward.

Remember, the more you focus on your goals, the more likely you are to achieve them. Don't get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and lose sight of the bigger picture. Keep your eye on the prize and take intentional action towards your goals. With focus, discipline, and resilience, you can achieve great things in your business.