One of the most important strategies to become successful is to measure your progress. That’s how you know that you’re on the right track. It doesn’t matter what goal you have – it could involve your solopreneur business or it could be a personal matter.
Tracking your progress will also help you stay motivated. Small wins remind you that you’re a step closer towards a bigger achievement. This article lists eight ways for you to start tracking.
1. Set deadlines in your calendar.
A calendar is a simple tool that enables you to estimate how long it will take to finish a task. Make sure that you can easily see that calendar (it should be within sight) so that you know what you need to work on for the week or day.
2. Share your goals with someone.
Research says that telling others about your goal pushes you to meet them faster. People tend to be committed to their goals if they share them with someone who has a higher authority, whose opinions they value. That person in your life could be your spouse, close friend, or a business mentor.
3. Take a step back.
Too often, we forget the bigger picture – the reason why we’re working towards a goal. It’s important to step back and imagine what your big goal looks like. Where do you see yourself a few years or months from now? What’s your purpose for waking up in the morning?
4. Set up a reward system.
Do you reward yourself whenever you hit a milestone? Rewarding yourself for those small accomplishments can go a long way. It helps you stick with your tasks. Need ideas for rewards? Take yourself out for breakfast. Go to an art gallery. Get crafty – paint or make a wall art.
5. Keep a journal.
Many of us have different plans and it’s easy to lose sight of them. Writing them in a goal journal captures your thoughts. It gives you mental clarity. Some journals have sections that allow you to write your short-term and long-term goals. They even include daily affirmations for you to internalize.
6. Have a monthly meeting with yourself.
Once a month, schedule a 30-minute or 1-hour meeting with yourself to review your goals. What have you completed in the last 30 days? What new strategies have you tried? Were you consistent in working towards your goals? What areas need improvement?
7. Break it into actionable steps.
A lot of people set goals and feel overwhelmed by them. The key is to break down that huge goal into smaller steps. For instance, let’s say your goal is to build a stronger presence on social media. Your first few simple steps could involve completing your Facebook page, uploading a professional profile and cover image, and creating that first awesome post!
8. Do more of what works.
Are you trying to do more without really being sure of whether a strategy works? If this is you, here’s what you need to do: Pick an activity and do it consistently. Check the results. Did it work? If it did, do it more often.
Remember: Whatever gets measured gets managed. Once you have set a goal, use any of the methods above to track them. When you track your progress, you put yourself in a position to become more proactive!
