The SmallBizLady Buzz - Issue 224

How Do People Mess Up Setting Business Goals

Often, failure to meet business goals stems from setting the wrong goals in the first place. Many goals lack the SMART criteria: they’re not specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. If you set goals that aren't compelling, motivating, or have a realistic timeline, you could be destined for failure. Instead of abandoning goal setting, you must focus on refining your approach to setting goals that ensure you are solving the right problem in your business.

Here are the top 5 reasons people mess up setting business goals:

1. Lack of Clarity: Goals that are vague or poorly defined lead to confusion and lack of direction.

2. Unrealistic Expectations: Setting goals that are too ambitious or unattainable can lead to frustration and failure.

3. Ignoring External Factors: Not considering market conditions, competition, or other external influences can derail even well-planned goals.

4. Failure to Prioritize: Trying to achieve too many goals at once can dilute focus and resources, leading to subpar results across the board.

5. Lack of Accountability: Without a system for tracking progress and holding oneself or the team accountable, goals often fall by the wayside.

Don’t Fall Victim to Failure to Implement – Consistent and persistent action over time is often where we falter as business owners. Larger goals demand higher levels of consistency and perseverance such as giving it two-hours a day or one full day a week. Underestimating workload, and overestimating willpower and motivation can derail progress. Avoiding these mistakes isn't easy, but each mistake holds a hidden solution. By uncovering and applying these solutions, you can achieve any goal.

Check out this week’s featured post: Tips to Make Discussing Fees with Prospects More Comfortable

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Tips to Make Discussing Fees with Prospects More Comfortable

Discussing fees with prospects can be one of the most challenging parts of the sales process, especially for women entrepreneurs. It’s a sensitive topic that, if not handled well, can lead to discomfort, misunderstanding, or even the loss of a potential client. However, with the right approach and money mindset, you can make these conversations more comfortable and productive. Before we get into pitching for the money, here are some tips and tricks to help you navigate the sales process to give you a smooth transition to discuss fees. Continue reading....

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Struggling to attract quality customers?

Join my FREE webinar, How to Attract and Retain Customers, Thurs. Aug 22 at 6pm ET. Discover proven strategies to boost your business, engage loyal clients, and drive consistent growth. Don't miss this opportunity to learn the secrets to building a strong customer base. Register now and take your business to the next level! Secure your spot today!

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Create the most realistic speech

ElevenLabs.com is an AI-driven text-to-speech (TTS) technology app. Founded with the mission to revolutionize voiceovers, ElevenLabs offers state-of-the-art tools that generate natural-sounding, voices from text. The platform caters to a wide range of industries, including media, entertainment, education, and customer service, providing users with versatile solutions for creating engaging audio content. Leverage ChatGPT to write a script and try it out.

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The SmallBizChat Podcast: How to Run a 7-Figure Solo Business with Elaine Pofeldt

Check out my recent solo podcast: How to Run a 7-Figure Solo Business with Elaine Pofeldt

This week my guest is Author, Elaine Pofeldt. She shares her insights on how to run a successful solo business. She shares the growth trends of million-dollar solopreneurs and identify top industries for small businesses. The conversation also covers the challenges solopreneurs face and the importance of personal branding.

Elaine Pofeldt is an independent journalist who specializes in small business, entrepreneurship and careers. She is the author of The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business, a look at how entrepreneurs are hitting seven-figure revenue in businesses where they are the only employees, tapping automation and other technology to scale their efforts. For more information: https://elainepofeldt.com

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Melinda F. Emerson, “SmallBizLady” is America’s?#1?Small Business Expert. She?is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, marketing and social selling. Melinda is also the president of the Quintessence Group, an award-winning marketing consulting firm based in Philadelphia, PA, serving Fortune 500 brands who target small business market. LinkedIn named her a Top Voice for 2019 in Small Business and Entrepreneurship.?In addition to being a former NY Times columnist, she is frequently quoted by media organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, MSNBC, CNBC and Fox News. She is the host of #Smallbizchat LIVE and The SmallBizChat Podcast. A prolific writer, Melinda has published more than 5000 articles on her blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, Revised and Expanded and Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.