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What are your goals for 2014?

January 9, 2014

By Ray Barry, Chief Shreducation and Member Relations Officer

By the time you read this, 2013 will be over. I don’t know about you but this year has flown by, which means it is time to welcome 2014 with a plan of where you want to go.

Whether you are a destruction business owner, sales professional or manager, you need a plan in order to make 2014 a great year. Just like when you take a road trip to a place you have never been, you have to map out your route so you stay on the right path to your destination. How do you know where you are going without a map? Hopefully, you wouldn’t get in the car and drive and not knowing anything about your destination. Business is no different. You have to have written goals to get you there, i.e., your personal roadmap to success. But some sales people do this all the time. They don’t map out their success route and then wonder why they are never the top sales person.

You have to take action. A decision without action is only a good intention and good intentions pave the road to nowhere. Constantly learning and setting goals are the surest ways to success. Your goals should be the following:

  • Realistic/attainable
  • Challenging
  • Measurable
  • All tied together
  • Synergy with personal goals
  • And, most important, written down where you see them every day

Other helpful hints for developing and accomplishing your goals include:

  • Have a positive attitude
  • Get a coach and be coachable
  • See it to achieve it
  • Review goals on a weekly basis at minimum
  • Set a goal to get better at what you do every day

Only five percent of sales professionals have their goals written down where they can see them every day. These just happen to be the top five percent of all sales professionals. Coincidence? I don’t think so, my fellow shred heads. Post your goals and stay focused on your dreams and you will have a chance to make them a reality. I hope you accomplish all of your goals for 2014. Have a great year!