Starting a small business or side hustle is both exciting and daunting. You’re fueled by passion, creativity, and the desire to turn your dreams into reality. But one key ingredient that often gets overlooked is goal setting. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with everything you need to do to build your business, and this is where goal setting becomes invaluable. Setting clear, actionable goals not only helps you stay focused, but it also gives you a way to measure your progress and keep yourself accountable along the way.
Why Set Mini Goals?
When we talk about goals, many people focus on the big, long-term aspirations, like “I want to earn six figures” or “I want to quit my 9-to-5 job.” These are great, but without smaller, mini-goals, you may feel lost or discouraged when you don't see immediate results. Mini-goals help you:
Stay Accountable – By breaking down bigger goals into manageable steps, you can check in with yourself to ensure you’re making progress.
Track Your Time and Effort – By setting small milestones, you can also see how much time and energy you're putting in, helping you manage expectations for the ROI (return on investment).
Build Momentum – Each small win gives you motivation to keep going and helps establish good habits along the way.
Ideas for Mini Goals
Here are some practical mini-goals you can set to keep moving forward in your business or side hustle:
Hand out 10 business cards shamelessly. Networking can feel intimidating, but it’s crucial. Set a goal to hand out 10 business cards and talk about your business with confidence. The more you do it, the more natural it will become.
Ask for 5 reviews from clients. Social proof is key when building your reputation. Reach out to clients and ask them to leave reviews on your website, Google, or social media accounts. Positive reviews help build trust with potential clients.
Connect with people on LinkedIn. If you’re not using LinkedIn to grow your network, now is the time to start. Your mini goal can be to connect with 10 new people a week or spend time updating and polishing your profile (think of it as some TLC for your professional image!).
Start a social media posting plan. Social media is a powerful tool for small businesses. Set a goal to plan out your social media posts for the month or aim to post three times a week on your business account. Staying consistent is the key here.
Sign up for a local event as a vendor or networker. Find events in your area where you can showcase your products or services, or simply attend to meet like-minded people. Even just attending can spark new ideas or connections that can move your business forward.
Mapping Out Your Goals: 3 Months, 6 Months, 1 Year, 5 Years
It's not just about the day-to-day goals but also about where you want to be in the future. Take some time to ask yourself:
In 3 months: Where do you want to be? Maybe you want to have your website launched, or you’ve secured your first set of recurring clients.
In 6 months: By now, you should be focused on scaling. Are you getting referrals? Have you met key contacts who can help you grow your business?
In 1 year: What do you want your revenue to look like? Do you plan on expanding your services or products? Have you built a strong online presence or community around your brand?
In 5 years: What’s the big picture? Maybe you envision yourself with a full team or have branched out into new markets. Dream big, but always have a plan for getting there.
The Key to Success: Consistency and Accountability
Goal setting doesn’t end when you write them down. You need to hold yourself accountable. Whether you check in with yourself weekly, monthly, or quarterly, make sure you’re tracking your progress. Don’t be afraid to adjust your goals as your business evolves. Life is unpredictable, and so is business—what matters most is that you keep moving forward.
Remember, success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built one mini-goal at a time.
Where do you want to be? Let's set those goals and get there together!
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