Planning to Realize Your Goals

Recently, I wrote about about creating specific, compelling goals that pull you towards what you want in your business, career and life.

It is important to have a goal written down, and it is equally as important to the write down the reasons why you want that specific goal. The drive to accomplish your goal is in the reasons why you want it.

With a specific goal in mind you have your target, and by being conscious of your reasons, you will maintain the drive to accomplish it. The final thing you need is a plan.

Some people are natural planners. They are able to look out over time into the future and visualize the actions and events that need to happen in order to get what they want.

For some of us though, this doesn't come as easily. We like to fly by the seat of our pants, or "wing it" as they say.

Generally, people who like to wing it are not as comfortable dealing in the realm of details and specifics. They are classic "big picture" people. They like concepts and ideas, and are good at creating vision and setting strategy, which makes for a good leadership.

While big picture thinking will direct us toward our target, the achievement of a goal actually happens in the details. This is where the rubber meets the road.

Think about that tire for a moment. The goal of a tire is the purpose for which it will be used. Does the tire handle best on snow and ice, or would it be better used as a formula one racing slick? Stating that you are going to create the best snow and ice tire is not enough to make it happen. The design of a tire starts as a big picture strategy decision, and ends with the specific details of the precise rubber compounds to mix and the depth and design of the tread mold.

To be good in sales, you have to have both big picture and detail management skills. You must create a vision, set the strategy, and lead people to the goal. You must also create a specific and realistic plan for yourself and others so that all involved know what it takes to accomplish the objective.

A good account plan will have both a goal and a specific plan. Sales account plans are often something salespeople just create because their management asks them for it. The process of planning though, actually begins to create the desired result in advance.

By being more specific in your account and territory planning, you will find that you are better able to spot the resources you need and potential problems and pitfalls far in advance. This will result in more wins and in cutting your losses sooner on weak opportunities. Also, you will have a bargaining chip with your management, in that you can show what you need in terms of time, money and resources to accomplish the sales objectives that are asked of you.

In making your sales and business plans, you start with the goal and the reasons. Then you create a plan. You take it down to a level of detail so that anyone could follow your instructions. This way, you are assured of getting the results you want because you planned them out in advance.

When people fail to reach their goals, it is usually due to one or two reasons: 1) They forgot why they were doing it and lost their drive, 2) They didn't know precisely how to reach their goal.

Without a specific plan, you can get easily derailed along the way because you didn't know how much time, money, skill, or other resources it would take to get what you want.

Plan out your sales activities. Plan out your quarter. Plan out your week - yes your week - in advance. Plan out your day. Plan out your sales calls. Plan out the questions you are going to ask, just as you would plan out an important presentation. Remember to have a goal and the reasons in mind for each plan. Build plans - you will be more successful.

Finally, don't be concerned as to whether planning will make you an "anally retentive" individual. Successful people set goals and plan for what they want - they don't concern themselves with such labels.

© 1999-2004 Shamus Brown, All Rights Reserved.

Shamus Brown is a Professional Sales Coach and former high-tech sales pro who began his career selling for IBM. Shamus has written more than 50 articles on selling and is the creator of the popular Persuasive Selling Skills CD Audio Program. You can read more of Shamus Brown's sales tips at http://Sales-Tips.industrialEGO.com/ and you can learn more about his persuasive sales skills training at http://www.Persuasive-Sales-Skills.com/

---

Asking The Right Questions

On an introductory call, how do you gather all of... Read More

The Best Day In The Week

The best day of the week is TODAY, of course.... Read More

Flea Marketing Lessons

A few days ago, I was signing copies of my... Read More

Selling Is Not A Dirty Word

Selling--a word that strikes terror in writers and professionals. We... Read More

Marketing Conversations, And Conversation Stoppers

Where many marketing conversations get off-track are the ones you... Read More

Can Barter Help Increase Cash Sales and Visability for Your Small Business?

Barter is becoming an increasingly popular method of commerce. The... Read More

Youve Got a Great Business, but Nobody Cares!

I would like to share a disturbing little secret with... Read More

Sell More Products and Services with Testimonials

Testimonials are all-important to sell anything. You may already have... Read More

Do You Want to Know the 8 Tips to Selling More Products?

So often sales men and woman are the very people... Read More

Writing Effective Sales Messages

A sales letter is a document designed to generate sales.... Read More

How To Take The Right Steps To Increase Your Selling Results

Steps - it is unrealistic for most salespeople to expect... Read More

Is Cold Calling Dead?

Is cold calling dead? And if laws are being passed... Read More

Leveraging Yourself Up To Executives When Selling

The fastest way to get a decision made is to... Read More

Why Cold Calling Is Dead

Our world of selling is closed off from other areas... Read More

101 Ways to Improve Your Direct Mail Response

1. Mail to your customers more often. If you are... Read More

Whats Your Clients Style?

When it comes to effective selling, one simple fact never... Read More

Selling Your Business ? Step by Step Process

So it's finally come time to sell the business. After... Read More

Selling More CDs at Gigs, Case Study: The Rogues

A few weekends back, the Brobdingnagian Bards performed at the... Read More

How To Bully Your Prospects Into Buying Your Product or Service

Selling is a tough job, and sometimes you may need... Read More

Using Emotion for Persuasion

The other day, I received the last issue of a... Read More

Why You Buy, Part Three

Still more discoveries from the recent studies in behavioral economics:Over-Valuing... Read More

How to Lose the Sale Quickly & Easily

Here are five sure-fire ways to guarantee you will not... Read More

Casual Networking

What comes to mind when you think of networking --... Read More

How to Create Material That Will Get You Sales Now!

WHY ARE YOU WRITING THIS BROCHURE OR SALES LETTER? A... Read More

Generating Sales Leads

Any company that relies on selling a product or service... Read More

Do You Have Enough Prospects To Make Your Numbers?

Several years ago I worked with a CPA who wanted... Read More

Long Sales Letters vs. Short Sales Letters

Everywhere I turn, I'm being asked to weigh in on... Read More

Solution-Sell is a Myth!

Who among us is not already up to here with... Read More

Five Things More Important to Buyers than WHAT Youre Selling - I

Article I of a two-part series.No matter what customers say... Read More

Things You Need to Know Before Joining a Direct Sales Company

A lot of people are very intrigued by the idea... Read More

Three Ways to Get More Referrals

When you are in the business of sales, among the... Read More

How To Sell Your Products or Services on Value And Stop Selling On Price Alone

Have you ever met with, or talked to a prospect... Read More

Wholesale Secrets Revealed: The Holy Grail Of Wholesale!

Like the legendary search for the Holy Grail, the cup... Read More