Have You Set Your Goal to Reach a Million?
On October 24, 2006 I will be in New York to attend the Make Mine a $Million Business Event by founding partner American Express OPEN. In the afternoon will be networking and workshops. Then the evening awards program starts at 4:00 PM, with financial guru Suze Orman. Twenty women business owners will receive awards, including money, to help them meet their goals to reach $1 million in annual revenue.
If you are going to be there, please look me up. I’d love to find a few minutes to chat.
I feel especially inspired by this program. Let me tell you my story.
When you go on the Make Mine a $Million website, you are asked to register and become part of the community. If you click on the button on the left that says “Goodies,” you can make a declaration that you want your business to reach $1 million or more in sales. The site actually prepares a printable certificate. Or, it will generate an email you can send to family and friends announcing your goal to reach a million dollars in revenue.
All my life I have been a huge believer in “write it down and it will happen.” The act of writing down a goal — or declaring it openly — helps you achieve that goal. I can’t tell you how many times declaring a goal has made it happen for me.
For instance, during my corporate days, I wanted to become a CEO of a subsidiary of the NYSE company I worked for. I wrote down that goal on a small card. That card was always with me in my laptop bag. I pulled that card out on planes, in the dentist’s waiting room, and even surreptitiously in boring meetings. Once I even pulled it out in a black cab in London.
The act of having that goal in writing and occasionally reviewing it made it come true. It took three or four years, but having the card made me focus on the goal and think about the steps to achieve it. I started jotting down on the back of the card the specific steps I needed to take to meet that goal. That card reminded me of what I was working for and kept me from getting sidetracked.
Most importantly, it forced me to view my career in a bigger-picture, longer-term perspective, rather than just one step ahead (as we tend to get in the habit of doing due the pressures of daily business). I had a plan. I was working my plan. Everyone needs a plan.
So I recently registered on the Make Mine a $Million site to make my business a million in revenue. I am openly declaring it here on this blog. By 2010 my business will have more than $1 million in annual revenue. Trust me, I have a long, long long way to go. But by declaring it openly, I intend to get there.
I urge you to make your own declaration to grow your business. Put it on your own blog. Or send an email to friends and family. Or just write it on a small card that only you will see.
PS: Many thanks to American Express OPEN, the founding partner of the Make Mine a Million Event, and an advertiser here on this site. Their support of this site is making it possible for me to attend the Make Mine a $Million Business Event.
September 1st, 2006 I set my own Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) to Impact a Million Business Owners.
I focused on the ‘end result’ of people as I know the money will come.
You can read about my BHAG at:
http://web.mac.com/gregbd/iWeb/MindOverBusinessSite/Home.html
BTW: congrats on your goal for 2010!
Congrats on the goal, I have always believed that we move toward what we think about and this tool helps you think about your goal. Knowing you I have no doubt you WILL make it!
Way to go and I cannot wait! And I hope once it happens that we get you into our Chicago chapter Anita! Best wishes and let me know what I can do to make your goal a reality.
Laurel Delaney
International Board of Directors
Chicago Chapter Facilitator
Women Presidents’ Organization
“If you can dream it. You can do it.”
I love it ! Its all about the power of intention. Which is a great book, well I only read 4 chapters and then I got the idea! But neverthelesss, I think you should claim the things that you want and I think you should claim it publicly. Make it know what you want and people will support you.
Best wishes!
Mind over matter – there’s truth to that. Congratulations and best wishes on continued success!
The pen is indeed powerful, Anita. Motivation speakers always tell us to do exactly what you did — write down our goal as well as what you need to do to achieve it.
Except, unlike most people (including moi), YOU followed through. The result — congratulations! — is that you fulfilled your goal.
With the same self-discipline you used before, I have no doubt you’ll meet this new goal. Perhaps even before 2010.
Onward and upward, Anita!
So where’s the million-dollar event for men business owners? I know I could use a million big ones!
Congrats Anita! Declaring your intentions on your blog is truly inspirational. I look forward to seeing you at the event in NY.
Why $1 million? I’ll admit it’s a nice round number but I’d prefer to set more distinct goals. For instance, I make lists of the things I want money for; college funds, retirement, stuff I want to buy. I find that it keeps me more motivated than just trying to reach an arbitrary number.
I have more ideas at my personal finance blog, http://catchagideon.blogspot.com.
Intersting and useful site for small business. You have earned a reader.
Really enjoyed your article, Anita! Right after I finished it, I wrote down a goal right away.
[...] Tomorrow I will be in New York at the Make Mine a $Million event. This is an awards program for women small business owners. See my earlier post in which I declared my intention to reach a million in revenue. [...]