Setting Goals for your Virtual Assistant Business

Rather Turn your Dreams into Reality!

Setting goals forms a critical part of your business’s strategic processes and is one of the important steps in creating a solid business plan.

Many virtual assistants – when they first start their VA business – neglect to set goals.

Some consider setting goals as a time wasting exercise – an action that will only result in having a piece of paper that ends up in a closed drawer where it gathers dust.

The danger however of starting a business without proper goals opens up the possibility that you might go around in endless circles achieving very little.

Without having some direction for your business it is very difficult to succeed. Don’t become one or the statistics of a virtual assistant business that fails due to a lack of clear direction and planning for your business.

Don’t postpone… set your goals!
There is an ancient Chinese saying that says “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.

In starting a virtual assistant business, the single step to turn your dreams into reality is to first turn your dreams into achievable goals…

What is a goal?

A goal is the result, the end product that you want to achieve. It represents the visions about yourself, your business and your future. Goals however require action to be achieved and when it is set correctly it forms an integral part of your business’s strategic plan.

For example, goals can be used to

Increase something – your income, nr of clients, customer satisfaction, effectiveness
Reduce something – risks, expenses, turnaround times, competition
Improve something – website, marketing campaigns, business processes
Save something – time, money, space, energy

Goals are never stagnant, and will change as your business change. Your goals today might be slightly different from goals that you set in a year’s time – and that is perfectly normal. As your business progress, changes in priorities and how you do business will sometimes necessitate changes in your goals.

Keep in mind that every new challenge that is put in your path will require a relook at your goals. If it is still in line with your overall long term plans of where you want to be – keep it “as is”. If not, change it to ensure that you keep your business on the path to success.

Tip: Rather change goals, that is not in line with you overall plan to ensure you stay on the right path, than to stick with goals that will divert energy and attention and force you to lose sight of the endpoint.

Why Setting Goals is Important?

The process of setting goals helps you to think about what you really want from your life and your virtual assistant business. It involves a brainstorming process that helps both your conscious and subconscious mind to start working on action plans to achieve those goals.

The amazing thing is that when you are setting goals, your subconscious mind automatically starts scanning your immediate environment for ideas, opportunities and tools to reach your goals.

Goals