Christmas Carol Business Message
What’s YOUR nomination for a best business Christmas message?
“…To face unafraid
the plans that we made…”
(From Winter Wonderland)
Endless studies show people are more afraid of public speaking than of death, so it would seem to follow that most people refuse to set goals for themselves and their businesses because they are afraid of failure to achieve what they decide to pursue. I mean that makes sense, doesn’t it? Fear of failure is part of life, right?
Well, there are all kinds of answers to that hypothesis. Fear is a behavior and all behavior is a choice, so fear is a choice . . . why choose to be afraid? Having no goals (especially if you own or run a business) is like being captain of a ship that has no rudder — another example of what seems to me to be a curious choice.
Did you know that when you decide to tell someone else (who doesn’t set goals) about your goals that you open yourself to such criticism and undermining that you stand to actually end up taking steps backward instead of forward?
Did you remember that effective goal-setting requires strict adherence to a simple set of criteria? A goal that’s realistic (to separate it from frivilous pursuit of wishes, hopes, and fantasyland) must be, in fact, realistic. It must also be specific, and due-dated. be clearly written down and carried with you, and –aha!– be flexible!
If you set a goal that looks like it’s not going to happen as you get to the the due date, be flexible: change the due date. Or change the expected payoff, or the dimensions or parameters of the goal. Flexibility means it’s okay to change the goal and the direction or the planned result. Y0u will not be a failure unless you choose to be.
Writing your goals down and carrying them with you forces your brain to buy intro them. It’s not unlike checking your wallet before you go someplace special to make sure you can cover anticipated expenses, or at least to simply take inventory. It’s a self-discipline behavior that keeps you focused on what you will achieve.
By keeping yourself focused on your specific, realistic, flexible, due-dated pursuits, you increase the odds for success dramatically, and the avenues you take will be more compatible with what you seek to achieve. In addition, your focus will attract endless resources to help you get where you’re going — people, events, information, money.
Face unafraid the plans that you made . . .
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Hal@Businessworks.US 302.933.0116
Hal, It’s true! I’ve heard that people fear public speaking more than death, too. They’d rather be the one being eulogized than deliver it.
I don’t think people fear goal-setting nearly as much. However, I think people do fear the work associated with accomplishing a mighty goal. Better to not set it and simply cruise along as they’ve been doing. That’s the easy path.
Yes, it’s easier to just wish for what we want rather than roll up our shirt sleeves and go about getting it. Here’s a quote that hits the mark for me:
“Great minds have purposes, others have wishes.” – Washington Irving
Good post for those who want 2012 to be a great year!
Thank you, Michael. I truly appreciate your input here. ANYtime. Merry Christmas! Best – Hal