Seven Goal Deterrents to Small Business Success: A Reflection

“Ideas without action are like being all dressed up with no place to go.” ~Harvey Mackay

We are now on the 3rd quarter of the year. This year started out with a big bang for me, both personal and business. While, I fear that the looming recession will greatly affect my consultancy services, I started out with gusto, with carefully laid-out business plan, big goals, and achievable (I thought and believed) income targets. In fact, January’s income almost doubled that of December 2007. Then a monthly 50% increase on February and March. Then the recession went in full swing. My income plateau in April and plummeted in May to July.

As I look back, reviewing what I have done the last 6 months with my planner spread, I have realized that I have a lot of big plans and great ideas that are supposed to take-off and implemented this year. I barely accomplished half of them. The economic slowdown and high inflation rates aside, what went wrong? What prevented me from accomplishing these things?

Here are 7 goal deterrents, I realized, that prevented me from accomplishing what I have set to do:

1. Procrastination. I kept on pushing the dates for accomplishing projects and goals;
   
2. Reactive instead of pro-active. I failed to anticipate problems and obstructions to my goals, and most of the time I over-reacted on certain issues and problems detrimental to my goals. In my mind, I even made the economic slowdown as an excuse for my misgivings;
3. Demotivated. I simply lost it along the way, especially when my May income barely allowed me to break even;
   
4. No Compelling Rationale. I failed to establish why I set those goals or want those ‘great’ ideas and projects initiated in the first place. Another arghh!
   
5. Unrealistic Goals. Should I expound this?
   
6. Absence of Faith. I wavered on my belief that I can accomplish more if I put my head and my heart in these things. More so, I left-out God in the closet.
7. Negative Pareto. I spent more energy and time on the 80% less important and neglecting the 20% most important goals and projects.

Have you considered dealing with the above? Those deterrents when left unchecked, unattended or resolved in time will eventually forced you to close shop. It is not too late. Today would be a good time to start anew –in reverse.

1. Do what needs to be done -now!
2. Be proactive. Anticipate problems and resolved them the soonest.
3. Your motivation should come within -find it!
4. Make sure that your projects are worth accomplishing and your business goals are worth achieving. Put your rationales in writing so that you can always refer back to them. Put 'em in your office wall if possible.
5. Review your business goals and targets and make the necessary adjustments. It is okey to dream big, but be practical and realistic in your goals;
6. Have faith in yourself and in God. This recession is temporary. This too shall pass;
7. Positive Pareto. Spend your time and efforts on the 20% of your small business that will produce 80% of your income goals.

Care to add?

How about you? Have you assessed where you are right now in relation to your plans and goals for 2008? What prevented you from accomplishing them? I appreciate the feedback.

Namaste!

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About the Author

Nor Franco is the Managing Director and Virtual CEO of nextManager.net. He's a former corporate executive whose passion is bringing out the full potential of HR in Businesses. This time that passion is pursued through Virtual Management. He writes and blogs about his management views and insights here. Follow him on Twitter.