Goal Setting, Is It Worth It? What Do I Measure as a New Business when Creating My Goals for 2023

There are several key reasons why setting goals is important for your business. First and foremost, goals help to provide clarity and direction. Without goals, it can be easy to get bogged down in day-to-day tasks and lose sight of the bigger picture. By setting specific, achievable goals, you can ensure that you are always working towards your long-term vision for your business.

Goals also help to motivate and inspire you and your team. When you have a clear set of goals to work towards, it can be easier to stay focused and committed to achieving them. This, in turn, can help to improve morale and productivity within your team.

In addition, setting goals allows you to measure your progress and determine if you are on track to achieve your long-term vision. By regularly reviewing your goals and assessing your progress, you can identify areas where you are making progress and areas that may need more focus.

This can help you to make any necessary adjustments to your business plan and ensure that you are staying on track.

Another key benefit of setting goals is that they can help you to stay accountable. When you have a clear set of goals to work towards, it can be easier to hold yourself and your team accountable for achieving them. This can help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same vision and that your business is moving in the right direction.

The importance of setting goals for your business cannot be understated. By providing clarity and direction, improving morale and productivity, and helping you to measure and track your progress, goals are an essential part of achieving success as a new business owner or entrepreneur. So, it is important to take the time to set specific, achievable goals for your business and regularly review and assess your progress towards achieving them.

Here are some things to consider when setting goals for your start-up or small business. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

1. Make sure your goals are specific and measurable. Instead of setting a vague goal like "increase sales," set a specific goal like "increase sales by 10% over the next quarter." This will make it easier to track your progress and determine if you are on track to achieve your goal.

2. Be realistic. It's important to set goals that are challenging, but also achievable. If your goals are too ambitious, you may become discouraged and lose motivation. On the other hand, if your goals are too easy, you may not be pushing yourself and your business to reach its full potential.

3. Involve your team. If you have a team working with you, involve them in the goal-setting process. This will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same vision for your business. It can also help to improve morale and motivate your team to work towards achieving your goals.

4. Make your goals actionable. In order to achieve your goals, you need to have a plan for how you will accomplish them. Make sure your goals are actionable and include specific steps or tasks that you and your team can work on to achieve them.

5. Set deadlines. Having a specific timeline for achieving your goals can help to keep you and your team on track. Make sure to set deadlines for each of your goals and regularly review your progress to ensure that you are on track to meet them.

It's important to take the time to carefully consider your goals and create a plan for achieving them. By setting specific, realistic, and actionable goals, and involving your team in the process, you can increase your chances of success as a start-up or small business.

But what should my business goals be made up of?

As a small business owner, your goals should be made up of a mix of both short-term and long-term objectives.

Short-term goals are typically things that you can achieve within a few months or less. These might include things like increasing your sales by a certain percentage, launching a new product or service, or expanding into a new market.

Long-term goals, on the other hand, are things that you want to achieve over the course of several years. These might include things like growing your business to a certain size, achieving a certain level of profitability, or expanding your operations to multiple locations.

In general, your business goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This means that they should be specific enough to give you clear direction, and include specific targets and deadlines for achieving them.

Some examples of potential business goals for a small business owner might include:

• Increasing sales by 10% over the next quarter

• Launching a new product or service within the next six months

• Expanding into a new market within the next year

• Growing the business to a certain size (e.g. £500,000 in annual revenue) within the next five years

• Achieving a certain level of profitability (e.g. 20% profit margin) within the next three years

Ultimately, the specific goals you set for your business will depend on your unique situation and long-term vision for your company. It's important to take the time to carefully consider your goals and ensure that they align with your overall business strategy.

What if I don’t achieve the goals I have set for my business, how do I stay motivated and can I just revise the goals and targets and start again?

If you don't achieve the goals you have set for your business, it's important to stay motivated and continue working towards your long-term vision. Here are a few tips for staying motivated and moving forward:

1. Review your goals and assess why you didn't achieve them. It may be that your goals were too ambitious, or that you didn't have the right plan in place to achieve them. By identifying the reasons why you didn't achieve your goals, you can make any necessary adjustments to your plan and set yourself up for success in the future.

2. Set new, achievable goals. If your original goals were too ambitious or unrealistic, it may be necessary to set new, more achievable goals. This will give you a fresh start and help to keep you motivated and focused on moving forward.

3. Celebrate your successes. It's important to recognise and celebrate your successes, even if you didn't achieve all of your goals. By acknowledging the progress you have made, you can stay motivated and continue working towards your long-term vision.

4. Surround yourself with supportive people. Having a supportive network of friends, family, and colleagues can be a great source of motivation. Lean on your support network for encouragement and advice when you need it.

Staying motivated when you don't achieve your goals can be challenging, but it is possible. By reviewing your goals, setting new ones, celebrating your successes, and surrounding yourself with supportive people, you can stay motivated and continue working towards your long-term vision for your business.