Clearly Defined Goals
Specific objectives can make the difference between a marketer who succeeds and one who gives up. Without a solid agenda, many networkers find themselves drifting in no particular direction.
The key word here is specific. It’s important to realize that goals are more than abstract desires. Of course you want to make money, but how much? Within what time frame will you achieve this figure? What will you do today toward meeting this goal? How much closer will you be to your objective by the end of this month? What actions will you take to bring about this progress? You need to be as precise as possible regarding where you intend to go and how you plan to get there.
Start by simply identifying your primary objective, and deciding how long it should take you to reach it. Write this primary objective down. The simple act of putting an idea to hard copy can go a long way toward solidifying your resolve. Again, this statement needs to be very specific.
Example: I plan to produce $25,000 in revenue with my networking business within the next two years.
Never let this ultimate goal leave your mind. Repeat it to yourself regularly. Tell others about it. Do whatever you need to do to convince yourself that you are totally serious about accomplishing this mission.
Next, determine what you can do each day to move closer to this reality. You may wish to create a daily checklist for this purpose.
Break your overall goal down into monthly, quarterly, and yearly segments, with each segment representing a realistic, productive step in the process. Write these goals down as well.
Example:
• This month, I will collect 300 new opt-in subscribers, and I will make $100 in affiliate sales.
• Within the next 90 days, I will become completely self-funded in all my networking ventures.
• Within 12 months, I will achieve a minimum monthly income of $500.
By writing your goals down and measuring your actual progress on a regular basis, you will become far more likely to succeed. Perhaps you can’t predict every aspect of the future, but you can most certainly create a large part of your personal destiny through proper focus and determination.
Tim Whiston is a full-time entrepreneur and internet marketer. He publishes a monthly ezine, and is the author of a popular e-book entitled From Zero to Profit.
