Milton Paris
By Milton Paris
Now is the time to set your goals for 2015. If you were not successful in reaching some or all of your goals this past year, follow Getting Ahead in Business’ formula to reach your goals in 2015.
Why set goals? Goals help you stay focused, positive, and on target. With clearer goals, you can develop self-confidence, increase self-motivation, and make better decisions.
The story of a young salesperson struggling to keep up with his peers demonstrates the benefits.
A few years ago, I was working with a group of insurance salespeople on an individual basis to help them reach their company goals. As I always do, I started with the lowest-achieving salesperson.
Arthur was twenty-seven and ambitious, but struggled to excel. I accompanied him to see potential clients throughout the day, trying to get a better sense of his motivation.
“What is your goal in life?” I asked him.
“To become the number one salesperson in the company and own a Corvette,” he said. He described the dream car’s hold on his imagination. He owned a toy model of every Corvette made since he was a little boy. Growing up, images of the car covered his bedroom walls.
“Have you ever been in a Corvette?” I asked him.
The dream car had a singular grip on Arthur, and I knew it could motivate him. That night I called the local Corvette dealer and asked to speak to the manager. I was working with a young man who needed some help with both business goals and a dream, I explained. He wasn’t buying a car, but I wanted him to test drive one. Would the manager agree?
My offer to purchase lunch for the Corvette salesman who took Arthur for a test drive sealed the deal.
The next day, I met with Arthur at the insurance company’s office, but instead of business as usual, I drove to the Corvette dealer. He had no idea what was in store! The manager introduced himself, handed Arthur the keys, and said, “Let’s go for a test drive!”
Forty-five minutes later Arthur returned. He had the biggest thrill of his life, he said, and lived part of his dream. He thanked me and the manager. We continued to see potential clients that day, but Arthur was different. After his surprise Corvette test drive, his entire attitude changed, and he was inspired to conquer a goal-oriented road map I helped him design with renewed vigor.
About a year and a half later, he called me. “Mr. Paris, the day you took me to the Corvette dealer changed my life and my understanding of how important it is to set goals in your personal life and in business,” he said. “I am now a proud owner of a Corvette, and I am the number one salesperson in the company!”
Why did the surprise test drive turn Arthur’s life around and set him on the road to success?
Before I met with Arthur and he drove the Corvette, his goal had never been elucidated clearly, he had never developed a road map to achieve his goal, and he did not have the confidence to believe he could be successful.
How can you develop a road map for your goals this year?
- Discover your goals. Make sure they are attainable, but stretch your imagination. Be specific about what they are.
- Set a realistic target date for achieving your goal.
- Purchase a large size calendar and a pocket calendar and write in the day, month and goal you want to achieve. Example: I want to ask for a raise by June 15, 2015.
- Make a detailed list of the rewards and/or benefits for achieving your goals. Make another list of the negative consequences if you do not reach your goals.
These steps in the process help determine your goal’s true value. If you are unable to cite benefits for achieving the goal and consequences, it probably isn’t a worthwhile goal to pursue.
Reach for a mentor who can advise you on how to achieve your goals. Look for someone who has made the strides you aim for. Eighty percent of business people do not know how to start the plan to reach their goals.
I have always dedicated my new year and achieving my goals to someone I love or in memory of someone. This may help motivate you as well.
Take that test drive in 2015. Then sit down and draft a road map to reach your goals. Have the courage to believe that you can make your dreams a reality and have a positive attitude.
Sometimes, goals are set, but never get off the ground. In most cases, negative attitudes and fears are the culprits holding us back from achieving our goals. To defeat these obstacles, do not surround yourself with negative people, and do not be fearful of never reaching your goals;
Successful people are those who are effective at achieving desired outcomes because they follow a predetermined set of procedures that lead to those outcomes. Most of our life is spent in our place of business. Take the time to set the goals that will help you succeed there.
You take hours to plan a vacation deciding where to go, when to leave and how to get there; put that planning into action to become a success in business.
Do you need more information on procedures to follow for reaching your goals? Do you need help to start and stay focused in reaching your goals? What are you waiting for? Call Milton Paris today for success in your goals in 2015.
For more information contact: [email protected]. Or call 732.306.0040. Go to: www.gettingaheadinbusiness.com
Milton J. Paris, President Getting Ahead in Business, Sales and marketing Consultant, Management Coach, Business Development and Motivational Speaker brings a wealth of experience to the table as a result of building businesses for the past 40 years.
He has coached/consulted CEO’s, Presidents, entrepreneurs, salespeople and start-up businesses. Milton’s insights and philosophy have also helped business people balance the appropriate levels of tenaciousness and with excellent communications and listening skills. This is all to be accomplished within an environment that puts a premium on taking personal responsibility for results.
No company is too small or too large for him and his associates to achieve rapid results in their business development. Milton writes a monthly business column: Getting Ahead in Business for Gannett publications and can be heard on WCTC 1450am Talk Radio New Jersey.
Listen to Milton and read his column, but most important make an appointment with him to make 2015 a banner year.
Milton’s philosophy is NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!
