Procrastination is pure bliss. For the small business owner, it can be an expensive bliss. We all do it – create New Year’s resolutions that never get traction, make promises to employees that never quite come to fruition, set a sales goal that’s reasonable but never attained, and so on, and so on. I hope everyone is going to take the time to set big goals for 2009. Now is the time to write down what you hope to accomplish this year… and actually do it. Here are some tips to help you achieve your goals:

• Set one primary goal that gets you and your team excited! This will keep you motivated.
• Visualize yourself accomplishing your goal. Imagine how fulfilling and rewarding it will be. Draw a vivid picture in your mind.
• Break your big goal down into smaller steps that you can achieve.
• Set monthly goals and even weekly goals, so that you can clearly see how to make your big goals happen.
• Track your goals and progress using a visual tool to share with the entire team (Excel, Basecamp)

Answering these questions can help you organize your thoughts and ideas for your goals:

• What are your goals in 2009?
• What are you planning to do on a regular basis to achieve those goals?
• What resources do you need to complete your goals?
• Are these goals attainable? Be honest!

If you focus on these little steps and continue to make forward progress, there’s nothing you or your team cannot do.