Hero or Zero?

It is the week of Christmas, whether we like it or not, we have either hit our goals for 2008 or we haven't. At this point, there is very little we can do. We are either a Hero or Zero.

Here are some simple recommendations for goal setting for the new year.

1. There is nothing more motivating than having to stretch for a realistic goal. Also, there is nothing more de-motivating than having a goal that feels like it is unobtainable. Do your homework, make sure that your goal didn't come out of your....left ear. What is your goal based on? Can you work that goal out on paper? If no, you are not going to hit it.

2. The time to start working on hitting your goal is now, not waiting until 3rd or 4th quarter. I once had a boss who wanted me to put a phone blitz together on Christmas Eve Morning to get us closer to our goal. Maybe if we would have had that type of push starting in January, we could have hit our goal that year.

3. Break the goal out. Remember, you eat an elephant a bite at a time. Break the goal down, would you rather have to sell 12 a month for 12 months or 144 for the year?

If sales person A has a goal of 144 sales, makes 12 in January -- that sales person can think, Wow all that work and I still have 132 sales to hit my annual goal, I can't do that.

If sales person B has a goal of 12 sales per month for 12 months and makes 12 in January -- they are pumped up and excited, because they hit their goal.

4. What steps do you need to work on to get better? Ask your boss, ask your best clients, ask somebody. What do I need to work on to be better at my job in 2009? Maybe it's better service. More cold calls. Better relationship with your co-workers. Remember you can't do the same job, with the same effort, and expect a different outcome.

Good luck in 2009 -- here's to all of us hitting our goals and being heroes. Stay Tuned.