SMART Goal Setting for the New Year

Although change can occur at any time, the beginning of a new year offers a great starting point. As a business owner, you may have established some resolutions for your tire and automotive service company.  What would you like to see change this year? Is there anything you want to do differently? Are there any processes you want to change? What areas do you want to improve? Take time to reflect on the past year and write down exactly how you want 2010 to be different. Get a clear vision of this in your mind and establish concise goals which will achieve your desired end-state. Next, think of the steps you will need to take to make that a reality and develop a plan of action.  It is imperative to write everything down. Think of this as your blueprint.  A contractor may have a vision in mind of the home he is about to build, however he would not attempt to begin construction without first having the blueprint in hand. This action plan will be your blueprint for success. The power of a written vision and goals is enormous.  A common tool that may assist you in the framework for your goal development is the acronym SMART.

Goals should be:                    

• S   Specific – Avoid being vague.
• M Measurable – Quantify your goal with metrics.
• A  Attainable – A goal needs to be within reach.
• R  Realistic – A goal shouldn’t be easy, however you need to believe you can accomplish it.
• T  Time-bound – Provide a timeline for when you expect to accomplish the goal.

Example of a SMART goal:  Generate a 20% increase in retail tire sales by the end of the 2^nd quarter.