I've been reading my list of business goals from last January and found out that I met every one of them during the year. The list includes such things as investing into new equipment, increasing sales and hiring one employee. I consider this outcome the result of actually writing these goals down and organizing them into different project folders. Every information, new contact or idea that relates to a certain project goes into the corresponding folder. I'm by nature not very organized, and so it really surprises me how this simple system has helped me to put floating ideas into reality. I'll try this again for 2003. Have you met your goals this year?
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Lotti
Good post.
I believe goals are critical to our success. I set ambitious goals, both daily and yearly. While I certainly don't achieve all my goals, they still motivate me to try my best at all times.
I also articulate these goals to those around me, and those who know me well also know never to bet against me, no matter how impossible my goals may seem to be.
But setting goals is only the very first action we need to take... each day we need to take at least one small step towards achieving our goals, even if it is taking five minutes to accomplish some small progress.
Achieving goals in one's life is a purposeful lifestyle, based on positive thinking and lots of action.
-dan
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Oh yeah... I did achieve some of my goals this year. Our businesses did great, we paid off a bunch of debt, and our changes in direction are working out wonderful!
The goals that I failed to achieve were not from lack of trying or poor planning, but rather from circumstances which were beyond my control. And although it was devastating, I picked myself up and dusted me off and am setting off in the direction of new exciting goals.
Next years goals are bigger than ever... it's gonna be a fun year!!!
-dan
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
I seldom write my goals down...I think partly because I am always trying to improve them while I'm accomplishing them.
We set out to build and own our building this past year...we missed our completion date goal but thats not unusual for construction. We set out to identify the cost going in and our goal was to meet those figures...we actually came in under the budget we established.
We set a goal for what we expected the property to be worth and came in 60% higher on the appraisal than we expected.
Goals for next year?
My goals for next year include (but aren't limited to) Looking past the nay sayers and doom n' gloom economic people and maintaining the good fortune we have encountered this year.
If we work hard...the future is ours. I pray there are no terrorist acts to overcome and no inevitable war looming...but if there is we will do all it takes to overcome all that "that" means.
I've got more ...but I think I'll keep those close to my vest.
Nice post!
Oh one more thing...A goal I have had since I landed here...to be as helpful to everyone (and I do mean "everyone" here) as I possibly can and spread as much positive re-enforcement in Letterville as I can muster. I hope I don't let anyone down.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Interesting question Lotti. As soon as I read it I launched Quickbooks to check gross sales. One of my goals was to outdo last year in sales. Last year was just about 100K almost exactly. There is always a little cash that never finds it's way into those totals. (did I say that out loud?)
I started off this year with a single job worth 25K, so I fully expected to easily outdo last year, & I have monitored ocassionally throughout 2002.
Each year my goal oriented, mindset has me writing up invoices for all my jobs in progress so I can get them on the books in the year the job was sold. I'm no bookkeeper, so I don't know how "wrong" that is, but I've always done it. (I may not print the invoice until work is complete so I can set the correct date to help track payment for the few 30 day account clients.
Anyway, I am in the middle of an architectural signage project worth 13K. I haven't decided yet, but I probably won't bother forcing that income into this year.
Quickbooks shows sales of just under 98K, so my initial reaction when I saw it was to say I missed my goal.
I did buy a piece of property with 2 houses this year. Actually closed on it Dec. 29, 2001. The amount of work that Linda & I have done there in 12 months is truly amazing too us as we look around the place now. So if I show a slight decline in earnings, I won't think it's from not working as hard. (Actually we do have the rental income from the bigger house...)
So YES! I would say I have met my financial goals this year along with the bonus of getting married, & seeing my daughter graduate from college!
(I might have to try those list ideas. I'm organized when it comes to stuff, but ideas do tend to float a bit & although I'm sure I've had other goals besides income, they are kind of nebulous & without a timeline)
Posted by Robert Richards (Member # 3244) on :
If you meet all your goals, then you probably set them too low. Always shoot for the moon and at least you might get a star.
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
I could'nt have stated my case any better than Dan just did. I would say my year has been nearly identical to his. I've always been ambitious in my goals and have always accomplished what I set my mind to do. What fun is a challenge if you don't succeed?
I also would have to state that my attitude is about the same as Dans. Hoping 2003 goes a little easier on us and everyone else out there.
Posted by ScooterX (Member # 2023) on :
congratulations on meeting your goals.
i'm actually having some trouble figuring out my goals for the upcoming year. i know i want to have better cash flow, and less debt, but i also know that i don't want a "bigger" business. i guess that means i need to focus more on the areas i can be the most profitable at, but i'm not quite sure what those are. i'm also trying to get a handle on my financial picture. since this was really the first full year i was in business, its hard for me to know how well i did. i know i spent a lot on tools (everything from brushes to power tools), that are now "assets". i've also aquired a lot of skills i didn't have -- also assets. i'm guessing that i could do the same amount of work in 2003 as i did in 2002 and i wouldn't need to buy any tools to do, and it would probably get done in half the time, so even if i just "stay even" i'll be ahead!
i'd like to know what other people have as goals -- maybe it will help me figure out mine.
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
i grossed the same as last year...but had a better net...i'm now into debt up to my eyeballs(i love living on the edge)have a great new toy, i mean tool(cnc router)...so i'm hoping that things just come easy and that i'll win the lottery and finally have a maid...kidding!(kinda) seriously thou, i'm shooting for that $100k cha-ching for sales in 2003...maybe i'm dreaming...but i know i'll try like hell. at the very least what i'm short i'll consider that tuition for the wisdom i will have after my endeavors &/or(mistakes). may we all have a healthy happy and profitable new year!
Posted by William Holohan (Member # 2514) on :
Sales Counter New computer/monitor/printer w/Estimate software
Design station 1 Existing/new computer/21 inch monitor/Omega/photo shop/illustrator/scanner/edge/and plotter
Design Station 2 Existing replaced with older design station 1 computer/ ram upgraded to 512/new 21 in monitor. Omega/photoshop/illustrator/plotter
Foto Fondlers station (mine) new w/21 in mon/512 all work on other stations backed up from this system to external hard drive. Photoshop/illustrator/corel/streamline/Pagemaker/scanner/digital camera/photosmart printer.
Design station 3 partially set up. waiting to purchase Omega license for this machine.
Sales Managers computer. Partially set up. Will eventually have second copy of Estimate
All on local network with full cross access for everyone. No server yet.
Complete change in pricing structure (Estimate) and far more aggressive outside sales have led to a gross increase in sales of about $100,000.
Net gain is minimal due to two new full time hires, & 1 part time, equipment purchases, software purchases and upgrades.
Looking for a much better year in 2003.
CNC router is ordered and should be up and running by March.
Seriously looking at Summa wide format for next year also.
Major challenges for next year are schedualing of rough fabrication/installation/increased quality control.
