Purpose-Driven Rock Setting

It’s that time of year again. You’re ready to set new goals for the next 90 days! Where do you even begin? Let’s assume you’re familiar with SMART goals: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. 

Beyond these guidelines, how do you typically get started? Perhaps you review recent financial data and gaps in the business. Maybe you consider building on current success, modifying your services and products, or proactively creating business development strategies. If your business is Running On EOS™ like mine, you’re likely revisiting your V/TO® to decide the next steps on your journey toward your One Year Plan and 3-Year Picture™.

In both business and personal goal setting, deeply reflecting on my purpose and vision each quarter provides the best inspiration for clear, aligned, and satisfying goal setting. For me, there’s nothing as satisfying as clearly articulating my vision and turning it into reality through purpose-driven goal setting.

Goal Setting: Revisit Your Core Values

When was the last time you deeply reflected on your company’s Core Values? My business and personal Core Values have evolved, which is normal and healthy. Experience and failure have refined my values over time. Revisiting the Vision Building® process, are you fully bought in on each element, including Core Values, Purpose/Cause/Passion, and Niche? If you don’t love each component, clarifying work must be done.

After taking a Clarity Break on these topics, the next step is to write down practical methods to incorporate your vision into your plan for the next 90 days, the next year, the next 3 years, and the next 10 years. Demonstrate where your Core Values will be tangible in the business. 

These aspects of The Vision Component® are your superpowers and will set your business apart from all competitors. Writing down Core Values holds you and your team accountable to a higher standard of performance on a daily basis. Consider implementing Core Values shoutouts during the Headlines portion of your weekly Level 10 Meeting™  to celebrate, reward, and reinforce these.

Power in Authenticity

Your company’s unique vision and values will set you apart from the competition. The ability to consistently integrate values and vision into your daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual meetings and in your rock setting will elevate your business to an elite level of integrity. 

My business is proof of this concept. At Empowered Virtual Assistants, we relentlessly advocate for the value of executive assistants. I set high expectations for all clients and vendors whom I choose to work with to ensure they are in alignment with my vision. In the words of Taylor Swift (paraphrasing Aristotle), “A friend to all is a friend to none.” 

My business and I won’t attract everyone, and I embrace that truth. My Core Values at this time are laser-focused on empowerment, excellence, efficiency, a grow-or-die mentality, and service leadership. These values guide my goal-setting each quarter.  

Executive assistants are highly undervalued, underappreciated, and underpaid, as I have personally experienced from 10 years of working in this role. My passion and commitment to advocate for this cause, as well as my personal story, set me apart from all competition with integrity and authenticity. 

How do your values and personal story shine through in the business?