Our Expert is: Keith Frein
Qualification: Keith has successfully built a company from $5,000 to 44 million. Keith is now spending a wonderul time with his family and building another great business.
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Keith's Weekly Insights

Tip #1 --Finish 2008 Strong
January 1, 2008

Its almost a given now that most people set goals for a New Year. There are literally millions of blogs, newspapers, books and magazines that are stressing that you must set goals and put them in writing to be have any chace at making them. Its also a given that by February (or  March at the latest), most of the goals written and unwritten  have been broken, forgotten, just plain ignored. The formula for achieving your goals, weather they are personal or business is a matter of staying the course in three areas 1) choosing "things" that you are willing to passionately commit to 2) writing them out in a very specific, detailed manner and 3) being accountable to someone other than yourself. Here is the framework for finishing what you start for 2008.

1) Picks things that really matter---I would like to lose some weight this year. I also have four kids under the age of ten. Our family enjoys eating out. I eat more pizza and ice cream than I should and really don't see that changing much in the New Year. Guess what? My commitment level to losing weight in 2008 is pretty weak. I am setting myself up for failure if I set that goal for myself. Too many people pick goals that they are not fully committed to doing. I recommend writing some very specific goals down (next section) and then standing in front of your mirror and saying them aloud. Looking at yourself and lying  to yourself is a very hard thing to do. Set goals that you truly have the confidence, conviction and commitment to do for 12 months.

2) Be specific and detailed---The other problem with the "I want to lose weight this year" goal is it reeks of just being a cop out goal that is easily achieved (I lost 2 pounds this year!!! I knew I could do it! is not exactly the result of a well executed, long term plan)or easily quit. Either way, a goal such as this has no teeth to it. My experience has been with goal setting, the more specific and measurable a goal is the more likely you are to stick with it.

Example (personal)--I want to lose weight vs I want to lose 15-20 over a 12 month period by increasing my exercise time from 3 hours a week to 6 hours a week and cutting back on Cokes from 10 a week to five a week.

Example (business)--I want to increase sales in 2008 vs I want to achieve an average  bill rate increase of $3.00 an hour for the top 20% of our customer base.

The first statements are weak and loosely defined. The second statements are crystal clear and easily communicated to others. People will get it.

3) Be accountable to others--Everyone has heard the statement, football is a team game. Actually achieving the goals you set requires the same mentality. Ask someone your respect and enjoy spending time to hold you accountable for working through your goals for 2008. Share with them that a big part of achieving your goals hinges on having someone to share regular progress reports. Ask that person if they would be willing to be part of that process. Most people will say yes( and you may inspire them in the process). The key to making this part of your goal triangle work is setting expectations (time commitment, number of meetings, preset agenda) and following through. By the way, I would recommend weekly 15 minute meetings. Most people can find an extra 15 minutes a week and would be more willing to commit to  that time frame versus an hour a week for the next fifty-two weeks. Once your partner agrees to be part of the process, the ball is in your court to drive the meetings with good progress reports of how you did this week in working towards your goal. Your teammate's main purpose is to "show up" and and encourage you to stay the course. Don't underestimate the value of choosing a good teammate. There are a lot of ups and downs over twelve months. Knowing you've got someone who is interested in engaged in your progress makes it harder to quit. Its harder to let someone else down than it is yourself. Choose wisely. Once you fall into a regular meeting rhythm (which will occur at about 12 weeks) your one on ones will become a part of your daily routine just like eating and brushing your teeth. You will both notice when you miss one.

Won't it be nice for a change to be reflecting on your year's worth of achievements this time next year instead of just hitting the same old goal reset button? In life, its not you start that matters, its how you finish. Finish strong!

Keith Frein recently retired as co-founder and co-CEO of PPR Travel. The company was ranked in 2002, 2003, and 2004 in Inc Magazines Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in the United States. Keith is currently working on taking a new nutritional beverage to  market through network marketing. Keith can be reached at keith081@gmail.com.

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