Podcast Summary: "KEEP YOUR BUSINESS GOALS ON TRACK! 🎯 Stephanie Love on SMART Resolutions & Anti-Resolutions 🚀"

Episode Overview In this insightful episode of Small Business Quick Wins, host Jay Schwedelson engages in a compelling discussion with Stephanie Love, a content lead at Thrive. The conversation focuses on setting realistic business goals, maintaining momentum with SMART resolutions, and introducing the innovative concept of anti-resolutions. Designed to help small business owners navigate the often turbulent waters of goal-setting, this episode offers actionable strategies to ensure sustained growth and success.

1. Setting the Stage for Attainable Goals

Jay Schwedelson opens the discussion by addressing a common challenge faced by small business owners: the difficulty of sticking to New Year’s resolutions. He remarks:

"[...] heading into the new year, I got to grow my business. I'm going to grow my business by 75% next year. And now I'm a few weeks in, I'm like, well, how am I going to do that?"
[02:57]

This relatable scenario sets the tone for exploring how to set more manageable and achievable goals.

2. The SMART Framework for Goal-Setting

Stephanie Love introduces the SMART criteria as a foundational tool for crafting effective business goals. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring that goals are:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

She clarifies the acronym, stating:

"Are your goals specific? Are they measurable? Are they attainable? Are they relevant? Relevant, and are they time bound?"
[01:48]

Stephanie explains that leveraging the SMART framework helps businesses create clear and actionable objectives, enhancing the likelihood of success.

3. Crafting Achievable Goals

Delving deeper, Stephanie critiques overly ambitious goals, such as a 75% business growth target, which may not be feasible for most small businesses. She suggests refining such goals to more attainable benchmarks. For example, adjusting a 75% growth target to a 10% sales increase:

"Rather than 75%, let's increase sales by 10%. So to do that, you want to say, I want to increase sales by 10% within the next 6, 8, 12 months by building a new landing page, by setting up a new welcome email sequence, by following up with customers who haven't booked in so many days."
[02:57] - [04:14]

This approach not only makes the goal more realistic but also outlines specific actions to achieve it.

4. Maintaining Focus Through Daily Commitment

Jay Schwedelson shares his personal strategy for staying committed to business goals by dedicating focused time each day:

"I carve out 15 minutes at the start of every day of mine I put on my calendar. I block out to focus only on that specific thing until it's accomplished."
[04:14]

He emphasizes the necessity of intentionality in goal achievement, warning against setting goals that remain vague and untracked.

5. Accountability and Regular Check-Ins

Stephanie highlights the critical role of accountability in maintaining progress toward goals. She advises:

"Setting that time at the beginning of every day or every week or every month, depending on what the goal is, to actually review it, see if you're on track, completing those necessary steps to make sure that you are getting... the results that you're looking for."
[05:12] - [06:40]

Furthermore, Jay underscores the importance of holding team members accountable through regular check-ins:

"The most important thing when you are trying to have goals set for others is... you need to hold them accountable. You need to check in with them weekly, monthly, all the time about that goal."
[06:40] - [07:43]

This ensures that both individual and organizational objectives are consistently monitored and met.

6. Personal Resolutions and Shared Experiences

The conversation takes a personal turn as both Jay and Stephanie share their own resolutions. Stephanie proudly mentions:

"I made a goal this year to run a marathon and I did that."
[07:43]

In contrast, Jay humorously admits his struggle with dietary resolutions, highlighting that setbacks are common and part of the journey:

"My goal was to stop eating everything that was within arm's reach and that's not going well."
[08:05]

7. Introducing Anti-Resolutions

Stephanie presents an innovative concept known as "anti-resolutions," which focuses on eliminating unproductive or detrimental behaviors rather than solely adding new habits. She explains:

"Instead of saying all the things you will do, say all the things that you won't be doing. Like I won't be bending over backwards to help annoying customers or mean customers or bad customers."
[08:34] - [09:05]

This approach encourages business owners to proactively remove negative elements that hinder productivity and well-being.

Jay responds positively to the idea, appreciating the shift in focus:

"I like that. I won't not eat a cheeseburger. Perfect."
[09:05]

Though he humorously struggles with the double negative, the sentiment underscores the value of setting boundaries.

8. Closing Thoughts and Future Insights

As the episode wraps up, both hosts express enthusiasm for future discussions, emphasizing the importance of realistic goal-setting and continuous improvement. Jay concludes with encouragement:

"Can't wait for you to be back on the show."
[09:23]

Stephanie adds a light-hearted note, reinforcing the supportive community for small business owners striving for success.

Key Takeaways:

1. Adopt the SMART Framework: Ensure that your business goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound to enhance clarity and achievability.

2. Set Realistic Targets: Avoid overly ambitious objectives that may lead to disappointment. Instead, establish incremental goals that allow for steady growth.

3. Daily Commitment: Allocate dedicated time each day to focus on specific tasks that contribute to your goals, fostering consistency and progress.

4. Accountability is Crucial: Regularly monitor and review progress towards goals, holding both yourself and your team accountable to maintain momentum.

5. Embrace Anti-Resolutions: Identify and eliminate negative behaviors or practices that impede business growth, creating a healthier and more productive work environment.

6. Celebrate Personal Successes: Sharing personal achievements and setbacks fosters a relatable and supportive atmosphere, encouraging resilience and perseverance.

Conclusion

This episode of Small Business Quick Wins serves as a valuable resource for small business owners seeking practical strategies to set and achieve their goals. By implementing the SMART criteria, setting attainable targets, maintaining accountability, and exploring innovative approaches like anti-resolutions, entrepreneurs can navigate the complexities of business growth with confidence and clarity. Jay Schwedelson and Stephanie Love provide relatable insights and actionable advice, empowering listeners to keep their business goals on track and drive remarkable results.