What an incredible Christmas, although I ate way too much Prime Rib yesterday! As a fish-and-fowl guy most of the time, yesterday's meal is still digesting! Hopefully, by the New Year!
When I was a little kid, growing up in the West Rogers Park Neighborhood on the North Side of Chicago, every once in a while, I would watch the 10 O'Clock News with my parents. At the end of the news - 10:30PM - the announcer would come on and say, "It's curfew time in Chicago. Do you know where your children are?"
My folks didn't have to worry - most of the time my brother, Randy, and I, were right there at home.
Now, as we fast forward to today, the question becomes relevant once again, but with a different tone, and a renewed urgency -
"Do You Know Where Your GOALS Are - for 2008?"
Statistics from several sources say that fewer than 3% of adults have ACTUAL, WRITTEN GOALS. The vast majority, however, have "goals" that are UNWRITTEN. You know, New Year Resolutions! Dreams!
Years ago, when I was introduced to the idea of Goal Planning by an early boss BRE (Before Real Estate), I introduced the concept to my mom. "I set private goals," she said at the time. "That way, no one looks at me funny when I don't reach them!"
I love my mother very much. But - these were not goals, and were never really attained. Monetary Goals, Personal Goals. Nothing came to be.
Funny, however, that when I review my own last year's WRITTEN goals at the beginning of each New Year - most have come to pass. Why?
In my opinion, they have these three qualities -
1. The goals are SPECIFIC. Number of Units Sold. Specific GCI. Number of prospecting calls each business day. Number of days off, vacation days, "date nights", etc. "More" is not a real goal!
2. The goals are ATTAINABLE. Yes, I would like to hit 50 home runs next year for the Chicago Cubs, but it's not going to happen. I would like the Cubs to win the World Series next year, too, but . . . Be REALISTIC with your goals - but don't fail to challenge yourself, think out of the box, push the envelope.
3. The goals are MEASURABLE. Measure progress in small increments. Daily, even hourly, and summarize and review progress on a weekly or monthly basis. Ten months into the year, it is impossible to course correct, if you are off track. Put your goals in front of you, in Page Protectors. post on your wall - review, review, review, and make course corrections as necessary.
Now comes a very important ingredient - the glue that holds your goals together.
ACCOUNTABILITY!
Share your goals with multiple "Police Officers" that will hold you to them. Your business partner. Your broker. Your Team Members beneath you. Your kids, and your spouse. Consider penalties for non-compliance.
But don't work in secret. Secret agents might have less embarassment, but they are seldom, if ever, truly successful.
Hope this helps!
Let's All Rock in '08!
DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
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