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Why goals fail: 3 goal setting myths busted — discover little known ingredients for success

Certain goal setting advice — despite being based on wrong assumptions — is widely accepted as true. And sticking with these goal setting myths is why goals fail us.

I’ve done some digging into goal setting research and discovered 3 of the most widespread myths. Here’re my findings. Along with several little known ingredients for success.

Myth #1: Every goal you set is a new beginning for you

The unspoken assumption is that your new goal exists in a vacuum. Pick a goal. Write it down. Do the work. Nothing can stop your success.

That’s a complete rainbow-unicorn myth.

You face one huge obstacle with every goal you choose. YOU!

Your past experiences and beliefs get in your way. Old baggage. Your past creeps into the present and blocks your future.

If you set new goals with the old baggage in place, then you’re set up to fail.

Biggest block to achieving your goals

Belief is the secret to achieving a goal. Believing you have the ability to do what’s required.

The more deeply you believe, when problems knock you down, it’s easier to keep going and succeed.

But our beliefs aren’t easy to see or put a finger on. They’re complicated.

Belief is a union of thought and emotion, and all day long we’re thinking and feeling, so a person’s belief system is intricate and in constant motion.
Rev. Dr. Jesse Jennings, Never Limit your True Self
Science of Mind Magazine, January 2019

Our mysterious belief systems set us up for success. Or failure.

Goal-setting research scientists report that people with high levels of self-efficacy are more likely achieve their goals.

Self-efficacy is an individual’s belief in his or her innate ability to achieve goals. Belief in innate abilities means … [having] determination and perseverance to overcome obstacles.
Wikipedia

Your strength comes from your beliefs to clearly see challenges and make wise decisions. To keep going. And not be overwhelmed.

Not believing in our abilities is the biggest block to our success. And why goals fail. Only to appear on our list year after year. After year.

Strengthen your belief – achieve your goal

James Clear in Atomic Habits gives us a path for developing belief:

Ultimately, your habits matter because they help you become the type of person you wish to be. They are the channel through which you develop your deepest beliefs about yourself. Quite literally, you become your habits.

He distinguishes goals from systems:

Goals are the results.

Systems and processes create results.

And habits keep you on track with your systems – day after day.

By using systems, we build a new identity for ourselves. The new identity embodies beliefs we need to reach our goal.

[Read more…]

Why is defining a specific and ideal audience important for spiritual entrepreneurs?

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First, what is a specific & ideal audience?

You have people that you’re here to serve with your gifts. They are the reason you created your business. But if you’re a solopreneur or have a tiny staff, you are free to ignore the masses to focus on those you serve best.

Niche is also a term you may hear a lot. Or even target audience. However you think of your audience, you have to clearly define who they are. So you know where to find them. And how to talk to them.

As a spiritual entrepreneur, perhaps defining your audience feels too businessey. Not caring enough.

But defining a specific and ideal audience is important to your business – and how you serve your audience.

You can’t sell everything, and you can’t sell to everyone. You have to sell to who you serve the best.

Flint McGlaughlin

McGlaughlin is the Managing Director for MECLABS, a research group that improves clients’ marketing with the goal of increasing response. Since MECLABS began in 1997, McGlaughlin has seen clients’ results from tests on over 10,000 website landing pages, and in 1 billion sent emails.

Flint McGlaughlin is emphatic that you only serve the people who you serve the best.

[Read more…]

Never Feel Slimy About Your Marketing Again. Use These 6 Trust Principles Now. Part 2 of 2

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Photo-credit-Foter.com

Make trust principles the foundation of your business

In Part 1, you read that feeling nervous marketing your business isn’t unreasonable. But it’s not necessary. When your intention is to build trustworthy client relationships, how you market is clearer. Putting your audience first is a game changer.

Potential clients want to trust you. But whether they’re conscious of it or not, they’re searching for clues that you’re trustworthy.

The research of Stefan Grafe, founder of mext, a global brand building consultancy, and his partner, Barbara Grohsgart, a psychologist, identified what clients need to know about you to trust you. From their findings and Charles Green’s work with Trusted Advisor Associates, I’ve developed a list of Trust Principles.

Using these Trust Principles will make it easier to know what to say in your sales and marketing. You’ll know which messages really matter to your clients. And you’ll feel more comfortable with your marketing.

6 Trust Principles

1. Empathetic Relationships – Clients know you are concerned for their feelings. You listen and let them know you understand. You don’t have to agree with them. But you do understand how they think.

2. Purpose – They know your purpose and your intentions for your business and for doing this work.

3. Improvement – Clients know you are dedicated to learning. They know you’re continuously raising your level of practice or skills in order to help them.

4. Competence – Clients believe you are well qualified to provide your service, specialty, or product. You don’t have to be the most qualified.

5. Solutions – You create and deliver the answers or solutions your clients come to you for.

6. Reliability – They know you deliver what you promise. You consistently do things the way they prefer or are used to.

Are you worthy of your clients’ trust?

Ask your clients. And ask yourself.

Use this Trust Assessment guide to learn how much your clients trust you. [Read more…] about Never Feel Slimy About Your Marketing Again. Use These 6 Trust Principles Now. Part 2 of 2