A wise man once told me that if I wanted to set and achieve my goals, I should write the goals down. At the time I thought it to be a little odd, after all Iʼm a goal-oriented person and whatʼs in my head usually holds true. However, I then realized that my goals changed while swimming around my mind––sometimes based on my mood, other times based on what I perceived as a genius idea.
It then dawned on me––thatʼs why we need to write down goals. If my mood or thoughts changed, so did the original goal. If the goal changed, then in theory doesnʼt that make it a new goal? More importantly, what happens to those with whom I share my goals? Are they to use the powers of mental telepathy to know that Iʼve changed the original goal?
My point is a simple one. Whether itʼs a business goal, a plan, or just a laundry list of to-doʼs, having a concrete written document makes all the difference. It makes the goals trackable, manageable, and, most importantly, quantifiable.
Now apply that across all business units. If at every stage there is a concrete written plan for all to follow––a plan that makes everyone accountable for their actions––it enables all involved to measure the success, or failure, of the plan. Itʼs here that simple planning merges with business process resulting in measurable success. A lesson well learned from my years in business.
Now, if youʼll excuse me, my wife has a long list of goals that I must achieve around the house while on vacation this summer.
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Sincerely,
Robert Beauchamp
Chief Executive Officer
RJR Innovations