When is the last time you “gunned” it at work? You know what gunning is, right? While driving, gunning is a quick acceleration or burst of speed.
Too often we are on auto-pilot and drive through our days at the same pace; achieving the same results. Then something happens that gets us excited: maybe it’s a new product, a new idea, or an old client resurfaces and needs us again. It’s then that we gun it and add the time and energy to get something done.
How can you then access that excitement and willingness to accelerate your efforts and activities? By focusing on what’s most important to you which begins with having clear goals. Yet over time those goals get pushed back and daily stuff fills our time.
Keeping your goals visible and tracking progress is key to spending your energy and effort in the right places. That’s why regularly reviewing your goals is so important. Refocusing on your targets and the rewards will get you excited and ready to hit the accelerator.
Now that the 2nd half of 2013 is here, why not make the time to review your goals?
Review. Pause and look at your goals. What is the target, actions, and your progress to date.
Maybe you’ll find that you are on track and can adjust your goals upward (wouldn’t that be great?)
Or you find that some things that were important in January are no longer and need to be replaced or revised.
Renew. Determine if the goals are still relevant and renew your commitment to the actions.
Revise. Make any adjustments to the goal or actions to get back on track, if needed. What have you recently learned that will help you? Is your reward for achieving the goal motivating enough? If not, identify the reward that gets you excited.
Replace. Swap your goal for a new one if it is no longer relevant. It’s okay to stop working toward something that isn’t important.
The bottom line is that you won’t know unless you pause today to know where to accelerate your time and energies for these next few months.
You can find the entire Goal Achievement Process in Chapter 13 of the Conversations that Sell book. The actionable tips and Goal Planner will help you “gun it” to achieve your goals for 2013. Or you can access the Goal Planner FREE under Free Tools here.
Your Turn! How do you keep your energy and effort at top speed? Share your comments here and you’ll be entered in the drawing for a signed copy of Conversations That Sell.
Congratulations to David Coffey whose name was drawn for commenting on the last drawing offer for Salespeople are Becoming Obsolete. David, please send me your address and we’ll get your book on its’ way!
When am I motivated to “Gun it”?
You’re right, when we see an opportunity is generally when we are inclined to step on the gas and accelerate — like when you are presented with a beautiful open road ahead while driving a 600 HP, 6sp transmission and no sign of law enforcement, you Gun It!!
The adrenaline rush when we see an opportunity in business is the same…but timing is just as critical. What has been most effective for me, is digging into market pain points of my clients and prospects and collaborating in the decision of when to accelerate.. That way, I get the rush but I have not run over anyone!!