Blog

When I talk about an end-of-year review the first question I am asked is – Does it really matter?  The short answer is yes!  There are 2 primary purposes for this review Identify what went well & what we did to create that win.  Knowing what we did gives us the opportunity to do it...Read More

In last week’s blog, I talked about 3 steps to finish the year strong   One of the steps is to choose one thing that is most important to accomplish this quarter.  Here is the link to my blogs if you missed it, https://goalfirm.com/blog/ You did choose your highest priority, right? I am sure that you...Read More

Regardless of our level of focus so far this year now is the time to be laser-focused. Ending the year strong creates momentum that carries into the new year! Let me say that again… When we focus our time, attention, and energy in the final quarter of the year we enjoy the benefit of feeling...Read More

I am reading the book, Quantum Success by Sandra Anne Taylor.  It is raising my awareness of my thinking and how that is impacting my outcomes.  One thing on my mind from this book is that I need to act daily in each of my goal areas.  This is weaving my priorities into my daily...Read More

I was talking with a friend about a genealogy project they had been working on for a couple of months.  My friend had purchased a photo scanner so that she could include images in the document.  She quickly discovered that Polaroid photos did not work in the photo scanner, so she used her phone and...Read More

I have been working on a launch of a worksheet to help you create your 10-year goal. Have you ever done something for so long or perhaps believed in something so long that when you try to create a worksheet or course or have a conversation with someone on that topic it seems so simple and...Read More

I love to learn and out of all the fantastic content I consume if I were to choose one thing that has made the biggest difference across all areas of my life it is gratitude. Developing a daily habit of gratitude and appreciation has and continues to make the biggest difference in my life. Whatever...Read More

I am a member of a Mastermind group and recently we shared resources. Specifically, these are resources that we have recommended to others the most in the past year to improve the quality of their life. The list is amazing, and I am working through the various books and tips. The first book I read was...Read More

I typically leave white space in my calendar. These are blocks of time and days that I do not schedule anything. I also have a target for my standard margin. Margin is how far ahead a task is completed prior to when it is due. A shortage of margin and white space over the past few...Read More

Improved productivity Lower stress Improved health (mental & physical)   There is a large body of research that shows the above benefits of a vacation. I wrote a blog a couple of months ago on the topic of recharging my batteries in absence of a vacation.  One of my conclusions was that I have made...Read More

We are nearing the end of the second quarter, and this is a great time to check our plan and adjust based on what we have learned. I have shared before that I like to use these questions: What did I expect to happen this quarter? What really happened this quarter? What went well &...Read More

If you’ve never thought about it before, you should! “We become what we think about most of the time.” Earl Nightingale I encourage business owners to have a 10-year goal for their business. Truthfully, I believe we should all have a 10-year plan for our life. Since our business is a component of our life...Read More

If you have followed me for long you have heard me share my belief that we all need to have a 10-year goal. Today I am assuming that you have your goal written down and that maybe you are now thinking…I love this idea but then I don’t how this is possible – <deep sigh>...Read More

Last week I shared my strategies to interrupt and prevent procrastination 3 Steps to Stop Procrastinating. I am not sure about you… I feel frustrated when I realize I am procrastinating – again! Like seriously – what is wrong with me that I keep coming back to this habit? Recently I have been asking myself...Read More

I have noticed a theme over the past couple of weeks. It has shown up in coaching calls with clients. I have also seen this in myself. The prevailing emotion around this seems to be frustration with a bit of worry (maybe this is just the way I am…). What is the theme? Not completing tasks & projects....Read More

I share a blog every Thursday – this is my commitment. The last week has been challenging on a personal level & I am tired. I considered skipping the blog this week since I really couldn’t think of anything worth sharing & I am tired. Hmmm… maybe you are feeling a bit tired too. Perhaps my thoughts...Read More

Jim Collins in Good to Great presents the concept of confronting the brutal facts and the role that this plays in creating a great company. I have not yet met a business owner whose goal was to create a mediocre business so let’s take a closer look at the strategy and tactics of dealing in the...Read More

When we first begin our business, we generally have a reason for beginning the journey. You could say that this is our first goal – make money, quit my job, do what makes me happy – these are some examples I have heard from business owners. Some of these are things we want to move away from...Read More

At the end of February, I had the opportunity to adopt a career-change dog from Leader Dogs for the Blind (LD). I eagerly said “yes”! MiMi is a black lab and she is about 1 ½ years old. She was donated to LD and did not have the typical puppy socialization. Knowing she would need training I scheduled...Read More

Quick question – Would you like your team to be more productive? Ok – really two questions…. Would you like to be more productive? Whenever I ask either of these two questions I get the same answer – “yes”. Truthfully there is a variation – some answers are “YES” (enthusiastically excited) and the others are “sure-yes, of...Read More

I have shared that I believe our 10-year goal is a bit of magic. Focusing our minds on what it is we want and then the action of putting this vision on paper gives us a long view of our life’s journey. We now have this magical 10-year goal on paper – what’s next? First, our...Read More

After I posted my blog, Why You Need a 10 year Goal, several people asked me how I went about creating my goal. It wasn’t until I was asked that I realized that I want to convince you to have a 10-year goal and yet I offered no suggestions on how to begin. Thanks to those...Read More

It is the end of the 1st quarter which is a great time to pause and take inventory regarding progress on our goals. I recommend using an After-Action Quarter Review. What sets this process apart from other review activities is that it involves everyone (various perspectives) and it is a discussion intended to gather feedback...Read More

I encourage business owners to have a 10-year goal for their business. Truthfully, I believe we should all have a 10-year goal for our life. Since our business is a component of our life our business goal needs to fit into our life vision. So, you may be wondering… why do I have strong beliefs on the...Read More

Michael Hyatt suggests that we have 5 choices after completing a review of our goals. Rejoice Recommit Revise Remove Replace This is the beginning of a new month and I have learned that pausing for a quick After-Action-Review is a good investment of my time. I enjoy a solid habit of reviewing my month and setting...Read More

It has been said that the devil is in the details and when it comes to executing our strategic plan the details count.  Creating a culture of accountability is a great way to get more done. We are continuing our look at 5 habits that make execution easier.  This week we are focusing on habit...Read More

It has been said that the devil is in the details and when it comes to executing our strategic plan the details count.  Keeping our scoreboard visible is one tip that helps us to accomplish more. We are continuing our look at 5 habits that make execution easier.  This week we are focusing on habit...Read More

It has been said that the devil is in the details and when it comes to executing our strategic plan the details count.  This week we are focusing on the lead indicators that are most efficient in moving us toward our goal. We are continuing our look at 5 habits that make execution easier.  This...Read More

It has been said that the devil is in the details and when it comes to executing our strategic plan the details count. We are continuing our look at 5 habits that make execution easier.  This week we are focusing on habit #2. Focus on One Goal When I suggest this to improve execution and...Read More

It has been said that the devil is in the details and when it comes to executing our strategic plan the details count. We are continuing our look at 5 habits that make execution easier.  This week we are focusing on habit #1. Commit to the Strategic Plan Our execution flows from the strategic plan...Read More

When we set deadlines, we are committed to meeting, our execution improves. Setting deadlines for goals, projects, and specific tasks creates an urgency that keeps us moving forward. Let’s see how deadlines are working for us currently…. How often do we meet our deadlines?  If our answer is “not often” then we likely are viewing...Read More

Our mindsets are comprised of a set of beliefs that determine how we see the world and our place in it. According to Carol Dweck, author of Mindset, Changing the Way You Think to Fulfill Your Potential, there are two basic mindsets: fixed and growth. Fixed Mindset: Our belief is that our talents, skills, and...Read More

This week we are talking about innovation and specifically the ideas that drive our innovation. The definition of innovation is… An idea that has been implemented into a product, service, process, or system that is new to the business (or individual). Our ability to innovate consistently is a critical component of the health and stability...Read More

Jim Collins in Good to Great, presents the concept of confronting the brutal facts and the role that this plays in creating a great company.  I have not yet met a business owner whose goal it was to create a mediocre business so let’s take a closer look at the strategy and tactics of dealing...Read More

Jim Collins in Good to Great, presents the concept of confronting the brutal facts and the role that this plays in creating a great company.  I have not yet met a business owner whose goal it was to create a mediocre business so let’s take a closer look at the strategy and tactics of dealing...Read More

In John C Maxwell’s book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, he talks about the Law of the Picture.  This law says that “people do what people see.” When I think about the role of authenticity in leadership this law immediately comes to mind.  When what we say matches what we do our leadership is...Read More

Strategy can be complex and yet – like most things it is better to begin with the basics. First, strategy can be a helpful business tool and creating our strategy can be worth our time.  Of course, not surprising, it can also be a box we check that has little impact on our progress toward...Read More