Start with the end in mind

When starting out with any kind of strategy or plan, whether it is for a business or for an individual, we always find value in starting with the end in mind. Having a goal or a destination in your mind helps to shape what actions you might want to take to get you there. In his book the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Dr Stephen Covey says all things are created twice – first in the mind and then in the real world – like a blueprint for a house.

Sitting down with a blank sheet of paper can be overwhelming but try fast-forwarding 12 months or 2 years or 5 years – what would be different about your business? If you had a magic wand, what would you be doing?

When you start to build up a picture in your mind of what your business will look like, you get closer to working out the actions that will help you get there. The saying goes that inaction breeds doubt and fear, whereas action breeds confidence and courage. This is where it is often helpful to get an accountability partner to help you stay on track. Like hiring a Personal Trainer at the Gym – this is where hiring someone like a DICE Roller can help you in your business!

Sometimes it can be the very first action that is the most difficult one to make, but once you get going you get into a routine. In your business you might aspire to grow but it is taking that first step towards growing that will actually get you closer to it.

We know that it can be scary when you set goals because there’s always that nagging doubt at the back of your mind that you won’t achieve them but really, what is the worst thing that can happen? There’s no Goal jail! You might have to tell employees and shareholders that it didn’t quite go to plan and that you are tweaking the course of action, or you might surpass your own expectations. Either way you are more likely to get closer to achieving the goal if you’ve taken some action towards it.

Start by getting things out of your head. It’s not enough to just have your ideas and goals floating about in there! Go old-fashioned and find a pen and paper to write them down. Yes, you can use your phone or a spreadsheet, but we recommend physically writing them and breaking down those large-scale ambitions into smaller actions or baby steps.

Set yourself targets to achieve each week or month and make a commitment to look back on how far you have come. Consider diarising time for the actions you are taking so that you don’t get busy caught up in doing other things. Also factor in reflection time once a month, once a week or even once a day depending on how focused and committed you want to be!

Once you are clear on where you want to go and the actions you are going to take to get you there, you have to fully commit to actually taking action! Put the actions onto a roadmap or a calendar for the year ahead and then use it at quarterly intervals to keep you on track.

Breaking down your big goals into actionable steps is how you will achieve them. And if you need any help – this is what we do! Get in touch to get the dice rolling: hello@dicebusiness.co.uk