As a small business owner, you’re probably no stranger to hard work. But ask yourself this: have you ever found yourself feeling stuck? Like waking up every day and running on a hamster wheel but never really getting closer to the big vision goals? If so, you’re not alone. We set out thinking big but have trouble making the gap between point A and B.

Life-changing—and business changing—for me was understanding Mindset and Goal setting. Couple those two things together and boom, last ingredient to the secret sauce of how I went from wishing to doing. So, in this post, I’ll share some mindset shifts and goal-setting tips that have become game-changers for me.

1. Start with a Vision, Then Break it Down

Now, you may have heard about this already that says: “Begin with the end in mind.” This is why mindset and goal setting go together.

I began by visualizing my version of success. Financially as well as impact, freedom, and happiness vise. Not just wondering “I want to make more money.” Instead, I become more specific. For instance, I imagine owning a business which allows me enough time to coach my kids soccer games and go on holidays with the family without constantly having to check for emails.

After I got that vision which was kind of grand, I made up the parts. This year, what did I need to do to bring that closer? This quarter? This month? This allowed breaking major goals into steps that are actionable and achievable.

According to a study by the Dominican University of California, people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them. Instead of thinking about your vision, write it down and make it concrete.

2. Embrace the Power of “Yet”

This mindset shift was a game changer for me.

Do you ever find yourself saying, I can’t do this or I am not good enough? I used to do it all the time. That was until I heard of the concept called growth mindset. According to psychologist Carol Dweck, what holds true is that people with a growth mindset—who believe abilities can be developed—are much more likely to reach their goals compared to people with a fixed mindset.

I replaced statements like, “I’m not good at marketing,” to “I’m not good at marketing yet.” But—yes, that single word – changed the way I started to approach challenges. Mistakes suddenly became opportunities rather than failures — nothing to be ashamed of, but a chance for growth.

The same goes to your business as well. Struggling to increase sales? You are simply still searching for the right strategy. Are you bad at handling money? You haven’t mastered it yet. The beauty of “yet” moves you along.

3. Set Goals that Scare You (a Little)

Your goals should scare you a little if they don’t, you’re not reaching high enough.

I always kept my goals nice and safe for the longest time. I didn’t want to fail. However, remaining in my comfort zone meant stagnation. That was a hard ask, I had to drive myself forward.

For example, I have once decided that in one year I want to double my revenue. It felt impossible. I would just do it, and I had no idea how I’d go about it and that terrified me. But that fear was also a driving force for me.

That drove me to hustle more, and be inventive and adventurous in ways I otherwise would not have been — which meant taking calculated risks. I still finally grew my revenue, but not by 100% as I had planned — actually it was 75%. Still a big win, and I learned the power of aiming high.

Research has shown that if you set challenging goals, people are going to do much better than when it’s an easy goal. Just do not set your aim so high that you will just burnout before reaching it.

4. Celebrate Every Milestone, Big or Small

When you have a million other things that need doing, it can be tempting to hop from one task to the next without taking time out to celebrate. But celebrating your victories, even the smallest ones, creates momentum.

One example is that I celebrated when I reached my first 1,000 social media followers with a coffee at my favorite cafe. I took myself out to dinner when I signed a major client. It was these small celebrations that kept me going and reminded me that a step forward is still too, a step.

Even if it is crossing one task out from the checklist of things you want to do, rejoice in it. Celebrating wins solidifies the positive behaviors that lead you to create things.

Final Thoughts on Mindset and Goal Setting

Every single mindset and goal-setting tactic that I learnt has changed how I behave in not just my business, but my life. From requesting to doing, I have turned my dreams into actions by starting with a vision, adopting a growth mentality, charting daring goals and acknowledging my milestones.

I suggest you should too, if you want to take your business to the next level. I recommend taking a few minutes this week to write down what your vision looks like and create a goal that fires you up but also feels slightly scary (in an exciting way).

Finally, I want to attribute this blog post to Kimberly James, the owner of Josie-Mae. Her ideas were of great help while penning down this blog about Mindset and Goal Setting.

If you need additional assistance in discovering clarity and focus, visit Zone of Genius. It has some great resources to help you align your strengths with your goals. 

Take note, improvement does not take place overnight. However, you will have this goal mindset and that will get you there. One step at a time.