Startup Basics – Page 2 – Alphadog Success

What Are SMART Goals & How To Use Them

Management, Startup Basics, strategy, With Audio / Drew

What Does SMART Goals Mean? SMART is an acronym that you can use to guide your goal setting. To make sure your goals are clear and reachable, each one should be: How to Use SMART Goals 1. Specific Your goal should be clear and specific, otherwise you won’t be able to focus your efforts or feel truly motivated to achieve it. When drafting your goal, try to answer the five “W” questions: Example Imagine that you are currently a marketing executive, and you’d like to become head of marketing. A specific goal could be, “I want to gain the skills and experience necessary to become head of marketing within my organization, so that I can build my career and lead a successful team.” 2. Measurable It’s important to have measurable goals, so that you can track your progress and stay motivated. Assessing progress helps you to stay focused, meet your deadlines, and feel the excitement of getting closer to achieving your goal. A measurable goal should address questions such as: Example You might measure your goal of acquiring the skills to become head of marketing by determining that you will have completed the necessary training courses and gained the relevant experience within five years’ time. 3. Achievable Your goal also needs to be realistic and attainable to be successful. In other words, it should stretch your abilities but still remain possible. When you set an achievable goal, you may be able to identify previously overlooked opportunities or resources that can bring you closer to it. An achievable goal will usually answer questions such as: Example You might need to ask yourself whether developing the skills required to become head of marketing is realistic, based on your existing experience and qualifications. For example, do you have the time to complete the required training effectively? Are the necessary resources available to you? Can you afford to do it? Tip: Beware setting goals that someone else has power over. For example, “Get that promotion!” depends on who else applies, and on the recruiter’s decision. But “Get the experience and training that I need to be considered for that promotion” is entirely down to you. 4. Relevant This step is about ensuring that your goal matters to you, and that it also aligns with other relevant goals. We all need support and assistance in achieving our goals, but it’s important to retain control over them. So, make sure that your plans drive everyone forward, but that you’re still responsible for achieving your own goal. A relevant goal can answer “yes” to these questions: Example You might want to gain the skills to become head of marketing within your organization, but is it the right time to undertake the required training, or work toward additional qualifications? Are you sure that you’re the right person for the head of marketing role? Have you considered your spouse’s goals? For example, if you want to start a family, would completing training in your free time make this more difficult? 5. Time-bound Every goal needs a target date, so that you have a deadline to focus on and something to work toward. This part of the SMART goal criteria helps to prevent everyday tasks from taking priority over your longer-term goals. A time-bound goal will usually answer these questions: Example Gaining the skills to become head of marketing may require additional training or experience, as we mentioned earlier. How long will it take you to acquire these skills? Do you need further training, so that you’re eligible for certain exams or qualifications? It’s important to give yourself a realistic time frame for accomplishing the smaller goals that are necessary to achieving your final objective. So, if you aren’t using SMART goals in your planning process, now is the time to start! For a little extra guidance on better goal setting, check out this email course, or consider talking with a coach.

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3 Reasons Your First Step Is Essential for Success

Leadership, Mindset, Startup Basics, With Audio / Drew

”A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.” – Tony Robbins. For some reason, many people believe they can simply coast through life and still end up successful. They envision success, maybe even meditate on it, but never take the necessary action to reach the next level. It’s probably the reason why many people fall for get-rich-quick scams. Imagine doing minimal work and raking in bags of cash in return! If you really want to succeed, you’re going to have to put in a lot of time and effort to make it work. You will need to take action, consistent and focused action. Here are 3 reasons why taking action is important if you want to succeed: 1. It’s your first step towards success If you don’t take any action, you’re never going to take that first step towards achieving your goals. You’re never going to go anywhere. As they say, it’s always the first step that’s the hardest…but it’s also the most important. It’s relatively easy to choose the right goal and to make a grand plan on how you’re going to achieve that goal. But actually going out there and taking that first step, is when that plan actually begins. Many people have fun at the planning stage, but the moment they actually need to do something, then the reality will sink in. “That’s a lot of work,” they’ll say. They’ll start procrastinating, or they’ll start thinking it’s a bad idea. Maybe the limiting beliefs set in and you think that you will do it wrong, or that nobody will respond to you, or that you could even end up in a worse position than you’re in now…And they’ll just stop there. That’s all they do – just plan things, but never really take action out of fear or discomfort. 2. No amount of prep or knowledge compares with first-hand experience. When you take action, you will find out that whatever you’ve planned isn’t always going to happen the way you imagined. It isn’t always going to be feasible even. Sometimes, what you think something is may be different from what it actually is in reality; but you’ll never know until you get started. This is why being flexible and knowing when to adjust is so important. Your plan, no matter how long you spent on it, is still just a general guide – you don’t have to take it at face value – and probably shouldn’t. When you take action and go out into the real world, you find out what’s working and what’s not. You will improve your ability to go with the flow. You will learn there’s almost always another option out there that will help you achieve your goals faster, more efficiently, or with less stress than what you initially anticipated! But, with consistent and dedicated action, you are guaranteed to put yourself in a better place than you are in now, even if you fail first. 3. You will grow as a person Taking action is important if you also want to grow as a person. On the way to success, you’ll encounter so many obstacles, glitches, and challenges. Those are the opportune times to grow as a person. When you learn how to overcome all these obstacles: you gain new skills, you develop resilience, you become more patient, you develop a new level of self-awareness, and you grow as a person. If you don’t take action, you’ll remain as you always have been, doing the same things you’ve always been doing, thinking the same thoughts, and feeling the same feelings. So, what are you waiting for? Take the first step!

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How A Fear Of Failure Manifests More Failure

Leadership, Management, Mindset, Startup Basics, strategy / Drew

Did you know failure is your friend? Depending on where you’re at in your life, you may either be laughing out loud or cringing. You may even have this almost irresistible urge to close this article and move on to more interesting things. Well, hear me out. Most people are afraid of failure. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that out. This is part of the human condition. We are drawn to pleasure and we recoil from pain and discomfort. We would love the big mansions, the swimming pools, the global vacations every two months, and the tons of money in the bank, but we hate or we try to avoid putting in day-after-day of seemingly meaningless work. Try to avoid meeting the very difficult people that can lead to great deals because it’s painful to deal with them. We would like to get the reward without going through the painful process. I understand that since that’s part of human nature. This is why we’re afraid of failure because we know it guarantees nothing. We can put in the work, the time, the effort and make all the sacrifices and at the end of that process, there’s nothing there. You’re left holding an empty bag. The truth is you’re already failing right now if you’re not shooting for your goals and dreams. You really are failing because every day you spend being paralyzed by fear of failure is a day not spent working towards success. Fear of failure can paralyze you or make you do things the wrong way. The worst thing you can do is to put things off and wait for the ‘right time’ to happen because that perfect time never comes, right? Stop waiting for tomorrow because tomorrow will never come. There will be many duties, responsibilities, and obligations that will pop up all over the place that will distract you. They will throw you off track. You can bet on that. Fear of failure can also make you hesitate and doubt yourself. Doubt is an emotional cancer in certain contexts. It can burn away at you. The worst part is it builds slowly until it explodes, usually at the moment you least expect it, and you end up crashing and burning. Don’t doubt your capabilities. Challenge yourself but don’t doubt. The ultimate truth about you is that you can do it if you put in the time, effort, and sacrifice and choose the right goals. Unfortunately, if you’re so deathly afraid of failure, you won’t go through the learning process. It’s painful to constantly think about failure, or failing, or not being good enough, or not having enough time, or whatever other excuse or limiting belief you can come up with. That’s why you’re not trying anything new – you think you’re avoiding failure. You don’t even give yourself the chance to succeed or fail. Successful People Think Differently We all want to be successful, but sometimes the fear of failure prevents us from trying new things. Failure is a necessary component on the way to success. If you’re not failing, then chances are you’re just sitting around doing nothing. Successful people don’t fear failure. Believe it or not, successful people know failure is always a possibility. But they make it work for them. They view failure as the price they pay to learn and grow. If you want a good example of this, pay attention to that quote from Thomas Edison. He said, “I didn’t fail to invent the light bulb. I discovered 101 ways of not inventing light bulbs.” Do you see the logic in that? Failure is the price you pay as you learn. You can use it as a steppingstone to the ultimate success or you can use it as a gravestone to all your hopes, wishes, dreams, and ambitions. The truth is successful people view failure as a necessity. Failure is not the opposite of success – instead, it’s part of the process.

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7 Legitimate Ways To Make Money From Home

7 Legit Ways to Make Money Online from Home

Startup Basics, work from home / Drew

The magic of home is more than just those lazy Sundays or that aroma of morning coffee. What if your comfort zone could transform into your profit zone? With an estimated three million workers in the U.S. choosing the home over the hustle and bustle of the office, the 9-to-5 is getting a cozy makeover. Let’s be real: who doesn’t want to ditch the tie or the heels for pajamas? 1. Home is Where Your Job Is Did you know that telecommuters report a higher job satisfaction level compared to their office counterparts? If your current office role mainly ties you down to a computer, it’s time to consider relocating… to your living room. Statistics even back this up: when travel company Ctrip made the shift to remote work, they didn’t just save nearly $2,000 per employee on logistics, but also saw a whopping 13.5% spike in productivity. Quick Pitch: Propose a test run to your employer. A one-month trial could be the nudge they need to see the potential. 2. The World is Your Classroom Globalization is more than just a buzzword; it’s a call for more language teachers. With platforms like Skype, you can cross continents without leaving your couch. Platforms like Lingoda could be your launchpad into this virtual classroom realm. Pro Move: A TEFL certification could just be your golden ticket to more opportunities and a better pay scale. 3. Sell Knowledge, Not Time Have a knack for marketing strategies or a passion for Renaissance art? Platforms like Udemy and Teachable can help you design a course that sells. The best part? Once it’s up, it’s passive income. Engage with your learners, grade assignments, or simply watch the enrolments come in. Smart Strategy: Drive traffic to your course through your own marketing funnel. This autonomy can supercharge your sales. 4. Paws and Profits Transform your love for pets into a lucrative venture. Whether it’s grooming, boarding, or just simple playtime, pet owners spent a staggering $5.41 billion in 2015 on these services alone. So, why not grab a piece of this furry pie? Expert Tip: Enroll in a pet first aid course. It adds credibility and ensures safety for your adorable clientele. 5. Be the Virtual Go-To Guru Every startup or business owner has that overflowing task list they wish someone else could manage. Enter the world of virtual assistants. From email management to data entry, the internet is your playground. Platforms like LinkedIn and UpWork can be your gateways to these opportunities. Valuable Insight: Know your worth. A race to the bottom in terms of rates is a short-term strategy. Aim for value, not just affordability. 6. Affiliate Your Way to Affluence Recommendation is the new age marketing. Dive into the world of digital marketing and get paid for promoting products you believe in. By partnering with brands and leveraging your online presence, your endorsements could be your income stream. Golden Rule: Authenticity is key. Promote what you genuinely believe in, and your audience will trust you more. 7. Trade in Pajamas, Not Just Stocks Ever considered turning market fluctuations into financial opportunities? Day trading or options trading could be your forte. With the right strategy, research, and risk management, you could be sipping coffee while studying stocks. Cautionary Tale: Remember, high rewards come with high risks. Equip yourself with knowledge, practice, and always have a financial cushion. The confines of your home have evolved. Once merely a resting haven, it now brims with potential. As the lines between work and home blur, you’re not just defined by your job title, but by the boundaries you break. Ready to redefine ‘work’? Your home office awaits. Conclusion: Bringing It Home Looking for that push to make the dream a reality? Reach out, and let’s chat about crafting your home success story.

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