I can tell you whether you or your team will hit your goals, with near certainty, from your answers to 3 simple questions.
1) Are your goals written down?
2) Are your goals measurable?
3) Does your plan include scheduled check-in points to see whether you are on or off track?
If your answer is yes, I'm putting my money on your hitting or even exceeding your goals. If your answer is no, your goals are still in the "good idea" stage and I doubt you'll even be talking about them by Valentines Day.
- Set achievable goals that are exciting.
- Write down the goal, the dates, numbers, dollars and timeline of your goal.
- Schedule check-in points and adjust the plan when you are off track.
- Leave margin for things to do wrong and still hit the goal.
- Have a plan for what to do when you want to quit.
- Tell people you care about what your goals are before you start.
- Work your plan.
- Finish.

