How to Set Realistic Goals
One of the biggest problems new marketers tend to have is setting realistic goals. If we’re honest, even seasoned marketers tend to bite off more than they can chew from time to time, finding themselves frustrated, backpedaling, and not being as productive as they could be.
This is obviously a problem!
Fortunately, it’s an easily correctable problem.
The key to running a successful MLM business is in being able to set realistic goals that are attainable by taking small, actionable steps each day. Today, we’ll help you work out a plan to make that happen.
Setting SMART Goals
The concept of setting SMART goals isn’t a new one and you’re going to see it recommended to you time and time again.
Why?
Because whether we want to admit it or not, the theory is completely sound.
The SMART term is actually an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time.
Specific
Specific realistic goals force us to think harder about what we want out of our business and/or our life. While your long-term goal might be to become a top-tier marketer for your company, your goal is actually not very specific.
A specific goal would be to learn the skills necessary to build and manage not only prospects, but a team of people with similar goals. That’s still pretty huge, but it’s more specific and can be broken down into small tasks.
Measurable
Measurable goals are broken down even further so that you can reach your specific goals:
[if !supportLists]● [endif]How much product do you need to sell this month to move towards your specific goal? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]How many new prospects do you need to start building relationships with this month? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]How many people do you need to recruit to build your team? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]What courses do you need to take? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]What training seminars do you need to attend?
By answering these questions, you can hone in on what’s most important, preventing you from making bad decisions about your business. That’s a big deal in your first few formative years as you build your network and grow.
Achievable
Achievable goals force you to reach and stretch but they are attainable and realistic. You may have connected with five new customers last month and have realistic goals of connecting with 10 new customers this month.
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Is that goal realistic based on how much work you put into the first five? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Do you have enough time and energy, or the resources, do double that number? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Do you need to refine your processes or scale your system a bit? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Should you set a hard goal of 7 while still reaching for 10? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Is it realistic to expect to attend a specific training session during the next month if you do not yet have the foundational skills to use it or succeed with it?
These questions let you keep your goals reasonable and achievable no matter how busy or hectic it gets.
Relevant
Relevant goals take your entire life into consideration.
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Are the goals you are working for timed properly or do you have too many other obligations to attend to right now? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Are your goals realistic considering the current economy or your geographic location? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Are your goals really in light with your ability to put in consistent effort and your other daily needs? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
It doesn’t matter if you want to become the head of your company’s financial department if the current head is nowhere near leaving or retirement. Nor will winning a vacation for you and your husband really matter if your husband is in the middle of a huge project (reaching his own realistic goals) and you can’t go.
Time-Sensitive
Time sensitive goals give you deadlines to focus on so that your goals aren’t hangout out there with an open-ended question mark behind them. Putting time stamps on tasks will ensure you are working towards your realistic goals every single day.
[if !supportLists]● [endif]When will you work on them? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]What can you do in a given day, week, or month? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Which tasks will hold up other tasks? [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]How does each task depend on other tasks?
Decide how long each tasks should take. Then, give it an target achievement date so that you are constantly moving forward. Be sure to factor in float (emergency time in case of delays).
Creating Realistic Daily Goals
Maybe you’re just starting out and you don’t have a major long-term goal yet (yet being the operative word - set some realistic goals!). Having daily goals will help you to build good habits in the beginning so that you can apply them later on as you work towards your larger, but still realistic goals.
For example, if you are in MLM your list may include simple tasks to keep your forward momentum going:
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Answer all pending incoming emails/questions. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Network in a personal interest group. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Post to your social media business pages at least once per day. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Reach out to five new prospects and update CRM database. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Follow-up with customers who have placed recent orders and update CRM database. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
[if !supportLists]● [endif]Follow-up with x# of team members to see who needs personal guidance and update CRM database (yes, your team members should be in there, too, so you don’t lose track of them).
Your list will vary depending on the type of business you are in, but you should have a set checklist you can work down each day. The goal is to consistently maintain your existing relationships while building new ones.
Do You Have a Power Hour?
Last but not least, no matter what happens within the course of any given day, start your day with a power hour.
What’s a power hour? It’s a portion of time that ensures that you will focus on some of your income-producing leads for at least 60 minutes each day without fail. Use that time to follow-up with customers, coach your upcoming party hostesses, or book meetings with leads.
When it comes to building your business, a mere 15 or 20 minutes of phone calls or emails seems like nothing compared to looking at a list of leads and wondering how many you should call. Touching base with your upcoming hosts or hostesses keeps them engaged and excited.
Booking new appointments ensures you’ll never flip the page and find your calendar for the week is empty. Adding one or two items at a time seems like very little, but it adds up and helps you to build momentum.
Not sure what tasks are most important for your specific MLM organization? Talk to your upline about taking advantage of some of your internal training tools and use those to create your first set of SMART goals and your first power hour guidelines. Before you know it, you’ll be growing your business at a smooth, consistent rate!
