Today's Leadership Insight - Setting Specific Goals

August 4th, 2009

There seems to be an inevitable, consistent desire that all human beings want: MORE MONEY.

On the surface, it seems to be the driving force behind everything we do. We go to work so we can acquire more money. We invest our money so it can become more money over time. We even gamble to give ourselves the chance to win more money.

You can ask anyone what they'd like more of, and the answer, 99 times out of 100, is more money.

But if you look at this in more detail, it's not about the money. We don't want money...we want the things money can get us.

Freedom, time, material items like houses, cars, new golf clubs, and big screen TVs. People don't acquire sums of money and let it sit on the shelf like a collectible...they go out and buy the things they enjoy.

This is where the importance of specific goal-setting comes into play.

As the leader in your business, it's a necessity to uncover the true goals and desires of your prospects. When someone says, "I want to make more money," this does not speak to any specific goal in their life and is a very generic answer. What person walking God's green earth doesn't want more money?

Now, an answer like, "I want to make more money so I can pay off my student loans by July of 2010" is much more specific and shows that your prospect has a goal they want to achieve. This will define their reason for looking for alternative ways to acquire more money, and thus keep them motivated to put forth the necessary effort to make sure they meet their goal.

Today's leaders realize that the efforts of work and business are not about the money...it's about the choices money brings! Money becomes a by-product to the things that open up to you. More time to spend with your family, more freedom to travel, more opportunities to give back to your community and people who've helped you develop, and more reason to do the activities you weren't able to do in the past because you were confined to a daily work schedule.

Today's mission is two-fold. First, look at the goals you have set for today and determine how specific they are. Do the ends justify the means? Will these activities serve a purpose and contribute to the greater good?

Second, when you speak to people about their interest in your business, be sure to dive in deep and find out the real reason why they're looking to start their own business. Don't take "to make more money" as an answer.

Leaders genuinely care about the results of everyone they partner with, and you can't expect to help your new business partner acquire those results if they don't have specific goals to meet.

Everyone has a reason "WHY" they do anything. It's up to you to uncover what it is!