Nothing is more frustrating than setting business goals just to see them not realized as deadline after deadline passes. Especially when you had high hopes for those goals. Just about every entrepreneur can relate to the feeling of missing the mark when it comes to some business goals.
It is tempting to blame external circumstances for the lack of goal accomplishment. While there are certainly unavoidable things that get in our way, sometimes the problem is with how we went about reaching those goals. In this article, we’ll look at 12 reasons why you haven’t yet reached your business goals.
1. You’re Not Being Consistent
One of the first mistakes many entrepreneurs make is the mistake of being inconsistent. If you’re not consistent, it won’t be possible to move forward. There are a lot of ways inconsistency hinders achievement. And, it can be for both the entrepreneur and the business.
If you have a service that you are providing but you are inconsistent with the quality of that service you will fail to gain the word-of-mouth and positive reviews needed to grow. Also, if you as an entrepreneur are not consistent with your own productivity and leadership you will not be able to create the stability your business and your team need.
Learn to be consistent with your own responsibilities, that consistency will begin to appear in your business.
2. You Don’t Plan Well
A goal needs a bit of project management. When you write down a goal, don’t forget to write a plan of how you can accomplish the goal. Figure out how you will get what you want this year by planning it out in detail. Write it all down too.
When setting up your business game plan, be sure that you’re planning for success or failure. Manage your risk and resources to ensure you’re in the best position to succeed.
3. You are Complacent
Complacency is opposed to the progress you’re looking to make in your life. If you sit in your comfort zone, you’re not going to get any of the things you say you want. The comfort zone isn’t the safe zone. Nothing ever changes here, but the world around you does. You may as well make changes too, and benefit from the growth that comes with it.
4. Small-Minded Thinking
When you’re setting business goals, how large do you think? Do you set out goals with the mindset of unlimited possibilities? It’s okay if you set lofty goals and don’t succeed. You’ll likely get some forward motion toward what you want. If you want a million dollars and work towards that goal, it might propel you to $500,000 because your eye is on the prize. That’s still a success. When you dream big, you’ll put maximum effort into it. No matter the type of business goal you set
5. Hanging Out with the Wrong Crowd
There is something to be said about the five people you spend most of your time with. They are important for where you will end up in life. If you have people in your life that are successful, you’re going to be successful too. Your friends are a mirror of who you are. If you are missing goals all the time, look at who you spend time with. This could be a clue about what’s going on in your life.
6. You Don’t Admit You’re Wrong
Business is all about learning from your mistakes. You’ll never be able to learn from them if you don’t admit you’ve made some. There is a saying that a wise man knows he knows nothing. The fool won’t accept constructive criticism, which means he never grows. You have to be willing to accept that you’re wrong and be okay if someone corrects you. This could put you on the right course in the end.
7. Too Much Micro Managing
When you’re trying to reach your goals, you need to use your time and energy well. Spending too much time managing others limits the amount of time and energy you have to manage yourself. It also doesn’t empower your employees to reach their goals. If you are focused on controlling others, which means you may even be stunting their growth.
You won’t be able to get where you want to go if you’re focusing on a fear that something might go wrong if you don’t have a handle on it.
8. You Give Too Much of Yourself
It’s good to be kind, but when you become a doormat or don’t do things in your own life, you won’t meet your goals. You’ll be far too exhausted when you can’t say no to others. This is especially the case if you’re doing it simply to please people. This is a major energy waste.
As an entrepreneur, you must learn how to manage both your time and energy. Learning to delegate responsibilities that waste your precious time and brain energy ensures that you won’t have enough to handle the more important parts of your work. Learn to take breaks throughout the day, during the week, and during the month. Learn to give yourself some time to recharge your batteries. Then, you’ll be able to return to your work with more focus and energy.
9. You Care What Other People Think
If you’re setting goals with other people’s opinions in mind, it doesn’t come from a place of honesty. That means that the goals likely won’t be met because you don’t really even want them for yourself. Learn to hear your own voice and go for what you want in life. It’s easier to work toward a goal that you truly care about. If someone has their opinion about it, ignore it.
10. You Don’t Make Changes
If you’re always doing things the same way, you won’t see different results. What you didn’t get done last year is likely because you continued on with the same actions and habits. It is your actions that create the results. Work differently and harder this coming year for the things you really want. That’s when you’ll see things starting to happen for you.
11. You Aren’t Healthy
Realistically, part of pursuing your dreams is to take care of your mind and body. If you want to achieve things, starting with healthy eating, a good night’s sleep, and a workout regime will help you more than you realize. You will have a clear mindset, and you’re hitting the ground running when you commit to health goals. It keeps you more energetic and motivated.
12. You are a One Person Show
When you’re doing everything by yourself in a business setting, you are going to get less accomplished. Sometimes it really does take an army to accomplish what you want to be done. At least a few people helping you along the way are recommended. If you get hurt and something happens, it’s good to have a team that helps you meet your business goals even when you have to go on a hiatus.
Conclusion
Goals are a good thing to have at any time of the year. If you make a good plan as to how to achieve them, that’s going to help you a lot. Knowing why things went sideways will help you accomplish goals for this year.
Also read:
10 Financial Business Goals Examples
7 First-Year Business Goals to Set for Yourself
This article was first published in 2019 but has been updated and expanded
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