|
Detour Ahead
By L. Scott Fenwick
President, Fenwick Consulting & Training
While walking to a very important meeting the other day, I was forced to change direction because a fire had closed a street I was walking on. Despite this roadblock, I made it on time.
While walking to reach the train station in time to catch my train, I encountered the annoying delay of being stuck behind a family of tourists, walking five abreast and blocking the sidewalk. I got there on time.
In an effort to grow into senior management during a growth period in my career, there were other people in the positions I wanted. I achieved the entry to management that I was striving for and more.
Like so many people, I believe in the setting of and achieving of goals. Goal setting is such a popular thing that on any given day, you will find new articles or books or videos or tapes being published on the subject (this article included). Yet, so many people try it and stop.
As a trainer for over 17 years, there are two issues that I am constantly told about that disrupt the achievements of a goal setter. One is the setting of unachievable goals and the other is ignoring the roadblocks you might run into during the process of trying to achieve your goals. This article focuses on those roadblocks or detours.
In the three examples used to start this article, each roadblock was overcome by advanced planning. In two instances, it was a question of building in additional time, while being familiar enough with the area to make adjustments on the fly, and in the other, it was preparing for advancement in multiple areas to eliminate job exclusivity and to be available at first call. Review, consider and plan for roadblocks and your success rate will increase dramatically.
We must take into account the realities of our situation when planning our future. Nothing will prevent a life of planning faster than failure of goal achievement multiple times. If contingencies are built in for roadblocks, success, not failure becomes the habit and continued growth and development become a lifestyle, not a task.
There is no shortage of Goal Setting programs. In a former life, as the Vice President of Sales Development for a major multi-national corporation, it was my job to review the training programs on the market. After reviewing so many programs, I have found this simple flaw, so many speak of dreams, but ignore the realities.
I’m sure somewhere in your lifetime, someone suggested you set and follow goals, and you probably even tried it. Yet, if you are part of the majority, the goals you set were either too easy or too difficult and you lost interest through lack of reward and no feelings of personal accomplishment.
To continue to grow, we must take the initiative and decide what we want to grow to. To that end, I have developed the P.R.I.D.E. system for Personal Growth. To learn more about P.R.I.D.E., please visit www.fenwicksales.com and indicate your interest.
Here is suggestion, before taking a step forward; you need to understand where you are standing. Take the time to evaluate the realities. Much as there is a difference between an open field and the narrow ledge on the twentieth story of a skyscraper, there is a difference between your life and that of the person standing next to you. Before planning your goals, take some time and assess your situation:
- Are there roadblocks?
- What are the roadblocks?
- Who are the roadblocks?
- Have you considered them in the past when choosing a direction?
- How difficult will it be for you to overcome the roadblocks?
- Will you need help to overcome the roadblocks?
Despite the strength of the best books, articles, or audio/video tapes from which you base your plans for growth, a plan is not enough if you forget to consider the roadblocks. You can’t ignore them. You must overcome them and only then will you be able to proceed down the road to your chosen personal destination.
About the Author: L. Scott Fenwick is the Founder and President of Fenwick Consulting & Training. For over 17 years, Scott has been a leading sales trainer in the New York Tri-State Area. Scott developed the P.R.I.D.E. system of training 15 years ago and companies across numerous industries have benefited from its’ simplicity and effectiveness. Scott can be reached at 631-421-0290 or sfenwick@fenwicksales.com.
Reprint Permission
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears: "Reprinted with permission from "fenwicksales.com (Copyright, 2004, L. Scott Fenwick, www.fenwicksales.com ) To learn more on this topic or other P.R.I.D.E. systems, visit www.fenwicksales.com and explore."
|
