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Closing Keynote - Growing the Business When YOU Are the Business
Presentation Scheduled for Monday, October 17, 4:05-4:55 pm
Anticipated CE: .75 CLE Standard
Anticipated Denial: CFP, MN insurance, WI insurance, CIMA
Approved CE: 1 NASBA/CPE
The second, most difficult question for many people to answer is, "What do you want?" So many professionals are challenged by finding focus and creating a path and a plan for creating what they want in their life and work. It's so much more than setting goals.
In fact, it boils down to goals, benchmarks, milestones and standards that ensure a life of consistent and predictable achievement.
As you read this, I am embarking on my third, five hundred mile walk across Spain. The first was nine years ago. In 2014, I went back to Spain and decided to walk the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage every three years until I could not. In September, 2014, I put it on my calendar for 2017. It is amazing how fast time goes when you have something on your calendar to look forward to.
Let's use the Camino to illustrate the power of a goal and how to create a foundation for achieving it.
Camino III: April 29th through June 3rd
Goal: Walk five hundred miles in thirty days.
Benchmark: Walk an average 17 miles per day.
Milestones: Days 10 and 20
Standards: 1. Start walking by 8:00 a.m. each day
2. Drink no alcohol or soda
3. In bed by 10:00 p.m. each evening
No matter what is important in your life and work, you can break it down into these four elements. Think of your goal as the big accomplishment. A benchmark is simply a number that measures an activity or a result. A milestone is a level or point of reflection along the way. A standard is a code of conduct or commitment to a behavior.
You can apply this frame to losing weight, saving for retirement, reaching your business revenues, earning your owner's compensation, writing a book, etc. When you can write your goal and then add depth and detail regarding benchmarks, milestones and standards; reaching your goal becomes a real possibility. The alternative is to set a goal without a foundation. That is simply a dream that is seldom realized. Too many professionals are in love with their potential and never lay down a foundation for their life and work to emerge and flourish.
The first, most difficult question to answer is, “What are you willing to do to achieve what you want?"
What do you want? Maybe it's time for serious dreaming, reflection, planning and writing? Imagine yourself reaching your goal in twelve months or two years. Will it have been worth it? I believe so. It makes the hard work worth it and life worth living. What got you here may not get you there. Remember, no change...no change!
Mark LeBlanc is the author of Never Be The Same and Growing Your Business! He can be reached at (612) 339-4890.
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