Effective Goal Setting System Step #3 (Pt. 3 of 5)

Thrive Professionals:


Congratulations!  You are on a roll, we are ready to review step #3 in the Goal Setting System.  


Do you remember the goals you set for your business last year? Do you remember how excited you were when you planned those goals?  Well, how did you do?  Did you achieve success in all the goals you set out for your business?  Did your plan work out?  If not, what exactly changed the progress of meeting the goals?  How did you get off track?  Why did you get off track?


The biggest mistake most spa salon owners make when setting goals is not "Meeting the Deadline" that was set.  Some people think it is ok to keep moving the deadline.  Your goals should never be a moving target.  George T. Doran says that goals are S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely).  There is no mention here that goals are flexible.  I believe a goal should be set and you work hard to achieve it by staying focused.  


So step #3 in the Goal Setting System is "Meet the Deadline".  If you don't have a target end date, when exactly do you plan to reach the goal?  You will never achieve success if you continue to carry goals over to the next year, then the next year and so on.  In order to "WIN" in business you must have specific dates on WHEN you plan to meet the goal.  


Example with Step #3: We are decreasing our overall expenses in the operation by managing professional product usage from $2500 to $2000 per month by July 31, 2012.


Notice in this example that I restructured the goal statement.  In order for you to achieve success with this goal you have to make an emotional connection to the target.  You discovered that connection during step #1.  You figured out the "what" of your business which led you to the "why".  That is the reason your goal statement should start with "WE" and it should read as a positive action that is currently happening.  Never create a goal statement with a want, "We want to decrease....".  You must reinforce what you are going to do "We are decreasing..."

"To succeed, we must first believe that we can."Michael Korda
The second biggest mistake most spa salon owners make is not getting your team involved in the goal setting process.  This system will not work effectively without teamwork.  So stop thinking that you can move your business in a positive direction without getting your staff involved.  They are your business.  You would be surprised how much support and buy- in you can get from them if you only "ask" and collaborate with them during these important discussions.  The team has to take ownership on what you are desiring to achieve.  If you do not have the team buy-in on the goals then you will have a hard time achieving success.  


Share with them your desires from step #1 Determine the Ultimate Goal, then you can work together as a team to figure out where you are now to where you want to go, which is step #2 Set the Expectation.  As a team make a commitment on what is realistic for step #3 Meeting the Deadline.   


Steps #4 and #5 will describe how you will keep this goal no matter what!  So keep an eye out for my next posting.  


Thriving Together,


Yolanda


P.S. If you want to get ahead and learn the remaining steps NOW, go to www.thriveprofessionals.com and register as a Thrive Professional.  Once I receive your registration, I will send you a MP3 audio recording of this entire Goal Setting System. 

Effective Goal Setting System Step #2 (Pt. 2 of 5)

Thrive Professionals:

You've set the foundation with goal #1.  But you can't stop there.  You have to set up the road map and have an understanding of your starting and ending points.    

When you log onto mapquest.com, the first step in finding your directions is to key in your current destination.  After which  you are able to put in where you are going.  The map will populate with turn by turn directions.  This is how you should view your goals for your business.  Don't set another step forward until you know where you stand NOW and what is an attainable desired outcome for the business.

Step #2: Set the Expectation for the Goals

If you don't have clarity on where you are now then it will be difficult to determine where you want to go.  Taking the same example from step #1:

Example of Step #1: Over the next 12 months our Spa Salon will decrease the overall expenses of our operation by managing professional product usage.  

Ask yourself how much do I currently spend on professional products each month?  How much do I need to decrease in order to flow a better profit margin for my business?

Example with Step #2: Over the next 12 months our Spa Salon will decrease the overall expenses of our operation by managing professional product usage from $2500 to $2000 per month.

Make it crystal clear for you to understand.  You can use a % of total revenue to find your target goal.  Whichever works best for you.  

These simple steps are the start of the goal setting system.

Check out Step #3 in our next blog post.

Thriving Together,

Yolanda

 

  

Effective Goal Setting System Step #1 (Pt.1 of 5)

Thrive Professionals:

It is fourth quarter and only a few weeks away to the end of another year.  Have you taken some time away from your operation to work "ON" your business.  Are you going into the New Year with a plan?  Do you have a marketing strategy?  Do you have the staff?  Do you have the right product mix for your retail space?  Do you have education set up for your team?  Do you have education set up for yourself?

We are living in a new economy and we have no choice but to take a proactive approach to our business.   

Here is the first step to my Goal Setting System:  

Step #1: Determine the Ultimate Goal

Yes, I said the "ultimate" goal.  What are you working so hard to accomplish?  Why is this so imporant for you to achieve.  It is very difficult for goals to be obtained without an emotional connection.  Just think for a moment, anything you felt very strong in your heart about you achieved it.  This is because you believed it and just took action.  Well, this is no different in your business.  What are you feeling in your heart and why does that emotion exist?

Once your "ultimate" goal is determined, figure out what you can do over the next 12 months to achieve it.   Maybe your "ultimate" goal is to build a profit driven spa salon that provides you capital that renders the freedom of choices and support for your family.  Well, over the next 12 months what can you do different in your business that will move you toward this "ultimate" goal.

Example: Over the next 12 months our Spa Salon will decrease the overall expenses of our operation by managing professional product usage. 

This could be a goal for you in the coming year.  You will need at least 2-3 more goals to focus on during this time.  Do not try to come up with so many goals that by the time year end comes you have achieved none.  So, I challenge you to find 2-3 more goals that connect with your ultimate goal and you will have started the goal setting process.

I will disclose step #2 of my goal setting system soon, so stay tuned!

Thriving Together,

Yolanda

Are you looking for answers in all the wrong places?

Are you looking for answers in all the wrong places?  Are you waiting for the right time or right place to make a decision?  I have discovered that there is never a right time, if you don't take the time to listen to your inner voice.  All of your answers lie within!


Rather you are trying to make a big business decision or just deciding who to put on your Christmas list.  You have the answer lying within!  Some people call it the gut feeling, God or Spirit.  I call it God and believe that He is always speaking to us.  We have a choice rather to listen or ignore Him.  We should not debate the answers we receive, we should just act upon them.  Why do we find it so hard to take the first step once the answer is received?


I find the best time to listen is shortly after my meditation.  This is when I hear clear answers and directions.  It is important to quiet down all outside influences while listening to the inner voice.  These distractions can easily get you off track and sometimes confuse you.  Think about it for a moment, you are being guided through this life journey and we still choose to allow others to lead "our" journey.


Don't allow others to lead your journey.  Ask yourself the question and wait for the answer.  You must know that you will be guided in the right direction and will discover the path that is best for "your" life.  We only have one life to live.  Don't let time pass you by and unnecessary life obstacles get in the way.


Believe the answer is coming.  Receive the answer once it arises.  Know that it is good enough.  Act on it NOW!  




Thriving Together!

(Pt. 3) Spa, Salon, and Wellness Professionals Support the Community

Thrive Professionals:


We finally want to highlight our third non-profit organization "Thistle Farms".  What an amazing group of ladies who have learned to triumphed in spite of it all.  I had the opportunity to visit the manufacturing office of the Thistle Farmers.  This is a wonderful facility located on Charlotte Pike in Nashville, TN.  When I arrived we all set in a circle for their morning meditation.  At this time each lady responded to the reading/thought of the day.  They were able to reflect on what that reading meant to them or just share a personal thought for the day.  I was so moved and inspired by the words and testimonies of these ladies.  They even allowed all visitors and volunteers to participate and the only thought in my mind was "gratefulness".  I was so grateful to experience the meditation as well as grateful for the creation of the program.


After the morning meditation, I toured the facility and these women explained what their daily responsibilities were at the company.  I learned how they make the spa products to how they take orders.  It is a wonderful facility just filled with love.


The story of Thistle Farms begins with the Magdalene program.  Founded in 1997 by Becca Stevens, an Episcopal priest on Vanderbilt's campus, Magdalene is a residential program for women who have survived lives of violence, prostitution and addiction.  Thistle Farms is their social enterprise.  They provide 27 housing residents for these women.  After four months of this program, these women find work, return to school and/or enter Magdalene's job training program Thistle Farms.  The women who remain in recovery for two years post graduation become eligible for a new home buying program.  


I find this program well rounded for these ladies and prepares them for the rest of their life.  We as spa, salon, and wellness professionals can get involved and make a difference in their lives.  They wholesale this product to our industry and the proceeds go directly back into the program.  I am proud to say that Relache Spa at Gaylord Opryland is carrying Thistle Farms as a way to give back to this organization.


So come on board and join Relache Spa along with several other locations in helping these women start a new life.  For more information please contact their volunteer coordinator Stacye at stacye@thistlefarms.org or go to their website www.thistlefarms.org.


Thriving Together!

(Pt. 2) Spa, Salon, and Wellness Professionals Support the Community

Thrive Professionals:


As a continuation of Monday's blog post.  I wanted to tell you more about another organization that is just being launched, TOUCH, Inc.


Touch, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides the healing gift of touch to non-professional caregivers of terminally and chronically ill family members. Touch was born from the personal experience of founder, Cheri Buttrey-Jenkins, after caring for her husband, Kenny Buttrey, during his battle with lung cancer. 


Non-professional caregivers have demands placed upon them that create high levels of stress, which take a toll physically, mentally and emotionally. Touch was established to help relieve some of this stress through the gift of a day at the spa, where caregivers receive touch therapy and other services.


This is another great organization that spas, salons, and wellness businesses can get involved.  TOUCH, Inc will be gifting their first recipient this month at Relache Spa.


If you are interested in rendering services or donating products to this organization, please contact Cheri Buttrey-Jenkins at cheri@touchinc.org or visit their website www.touchinc.org.


Thriving Together!

Spa, Salon, and Wellness Professionals Support the Community!

Thrive Professionals:

Today we had the privilege to hear from three very powerful non-profits in the Middle Tennessee area.  The YWCA, TOUCH Inc., and Thistle Farms.  These representatives shared with us why their organizations exist today and some very disturbing statistics.  We have to do our part and "get involved" to make a difference.

Here is a highlight of YWCA

Their mission is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

They are most known for their Domestic Violence Program.  But did you know that they offer a FREE GED program.  Did you know they had a program for youth girls called Girls, Inc.?  This program focuses on at-risk girls in five Metro Public Schools.

This is just a few things that the YWCA is doing in our Middle Tennessee area.  We can get involved by volunteering our time, skills, and talent to their many programs.  We can offer complimentary salon, spa, and/or wellness services to their staff and/or women in the program.  We can also donate new products and toiletries from their on-line wish list.

For further information or to volunteer, please contact Abby Sasser at abby.sasser@ywcanashville.com.

Don't wait, join in today on stopping Domestic Violence and Eliminating Racism!

Thriving Together!