Women entrepreneurs don’t exactly light up when they talk about the G word – Goal. For many women, goal setting doesn’t work. It’s one of those things we feel that we have to do, like going to the dentist, because everyone tells us we have to do it. After all, goal setting is essential to success, right? Maybe not.
How many times have you been asked about your goals and answered with either the fake it response, “Great!”, or the blame game response, “Not good, the economy is really bad right now”? Both responses lead to goal-remorse, a combination of frustration and guilt. It kind of feels like every day is Jan. 7, the day most people give up on their New Year’s Resolution. Goal-remorse can cause severe anxiety in women; thanks to our nurturing gene which makes us feel bad when we let people down.
Here are 3 reasons goal setting is not working for women entrepreneurs, and what you can do about it:
1. Goals come before vision. That’s true in the dictionary, but not in business. When was the last time someone asked you, “What’s your vision?” My guess is never. It’s all about the “G” word, rarely about the “V”. That’s a huge disconnect for women entrepreneurs. Act like the lady-CEO that you are and take a stand. No more goals until you create a vision for your business and define who you are and where you’re going. Get started by mixing 1/3 purpose, 1/3 passion and add in 1/3 crazy idea. Here’s three examples (including mine) to get your creative juices flowing:
Teach people how to live. – Martha Stewart
Bringing the best to everyone we touch. – Estee Lauder
Empower women to discover their glow. – Lynn Bardowski
Once you start the envisioning process, ask yourself how you’re going to make your vision a reality and get to work. You’ll be rockin’ the “G” word without even thinking about it.
2. Vision is not communicated. Ok, this is a catch-22. If you were never taught to create a vision (see #1), you’re not going to have a vision to communicate. But since you read #1, your inner Visionista is ready to roll. The cool thing about communicating your vision is that you’ll inspire others around you to act, and attract more clients. You’ll find yourself standing taller and prouder as the visionary leader that you are. For more tips on how to communicate your vision watch my interview on BeTV.
3. Goals add to overwhelm. I may be the Million Dollar Party Girl, but my husband still expects me to pick up the dry cleaning and put something (anything) together for dinner. We’ve come a long way, but the male/female roles have not changed much. Adding a big goal to a never-ending to-do list can be so overwhelming it has the opposite effect, inspiring us to do, well, nothing. Rather than get overwhelmed with a big goal that might seem daunting, focus on 3 or 4 daily habits that will compound your results. An example is making 5 customer service calls per day to implement a referral system, which leads to loyal customers and new clients. That’s totally doable. Now, imagine doing that 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year. And, don’t forget to pop some bubbly (or treat yourself to something sparkly) to celebrate the effort and progress you’re making along the way.
How do you feel about goal-setting? Comment and share your vision for your biz!
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