Every year, I sit down with my family, and we set a goal for sales that I need to reach. When I reach that goal, we go on a family vacation. We take a picture of that goal and put it on my bedroom door and my bathroom mirror. This reminds me as I go to bed and when I get up what my goals are and that my family is counting on me reaching them.
The one on the outside of my bedroom door has a check list. Whenever I close a property we have one of the kids cross out a picture of a home on the check list. When we get to the last one, we are allowed to go on a family vacation.
This does two things. First, it reminds daily that I am working toward a goal and my family is counting on me reaching that goal. Second, it reminds my family that they need to do what they can to help me reach that goal, be it stuffing envelopes or being quiet when I am on the phone in the car with them.
Last year we had set a goal that was double what I had done the previous year and when we made it, we all decided that we were going to Yellowstone, and boy, was it one of the best two weeks of my life. Here are some pictures from that vacation.
So what kind of goals do you set for yourself, and do you have a reward picked out if you reach those goals? Sometimes when you know what the prize is, it makes you work that much harder to reach them. In my case I have others holding me accountable, and I don't want to disappoint.
Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739
Todd@IFoundYourNewHome.com
http://www.ifoundyournewhome.com/
Todd, This is wonderful !! I'm so impressed with you and your goal setting habits and the way you have your whole family involved. Truly inspirational. You are teaching your children such a valuable lesson on goal setting and the power of dreams at the same time....
Thank you for writing about this ,
Jo
Todd, what a great family you have! Goal setting is one of the most important things you can do. It's your roadmap for the year! Great job!
Naomi - Thank you!
Jo-Ann - I have to give my credit to my best friend, my dad. Everything I do I learned from him. I was a runner in Jr. High and High School and he never missed a race and I have since planned to do the same for my kids. Teach them the same lessons my dad taught me, to set goals and go after them. I hope they are going to learn the same lesson from me.
Linda - Thank you
Fran - You are the one thay may need that more than I. Don't want you to get a sunburn on that head of yours. Oh was than un PC - lol
Bobbi - You may want to have them check out our accountability center group. The more people we have the better the group will be.
Todd, Good Job. My wife and I place pictures of our goals on the wall that leads downstairs to the main floor. So as we prepare ourselves for the day and exit the bedroom, Our goals are the first course of action for the day. Good motivation. Rod
Matthew - What a great idea and why not, inspire you to help her reach that goal.
Rodney - I hope you reach your goals!
Roberta - Write a business plan is a great start! Set your first goal at one house and then plan a dinner at a restaurant that you have always wanted to go to. Start small, then when you sell two houses go for a weekend out of town or buy yourself that dress you always wanted. But, set those goals early!
This an awesome idea. This really hold you accountable.
Todd,
That is a fantastic idea! Having a schedule really helps us to stay focused. It seems like you have a great system going there!
Dave
Todd - I've always heard that it's a good idea to write out your goals, review them daily, and have an accountability partner. Sounds like you have accountability partners with a vested interest in you meeting your goals...now that's a new twist!
Can't wait to meet you and your family when you come to visit the happiest place on earth!
Your castle awaits...
Todd - I guess this was realy good timing to find this as I am starting to work on goals for next year. AS a family we havn't taken a vacation in a long time and they deserve it. We want to take our 4 year old to Disney next year and having it posted at home is a great idea.
I have a lot of visuals at my office and it helps me a lot. Having it at home would help for those days when I don't feel like going in and have no appointments. Thanks
Robert Dowding
"Real Estate, Real Results!"
Gary - Feel free to use it!
Dave - It does work well for both me and my family and keeps me very accountable.
Marlene - My list of people that are going to be at my Southern Cal tax write off dinner as I'm calling it is growing!
Rick - Screw the kids! This is for me - lol
Irene - If you are not using your 5 tax write off's yet then you do need to get on it - lol
Robert - It is the thing I look foward to every time I sell a house. Seeing the kids' faces when they get to mark off a house is priceless.
Gwendolyn - Having a three year old ask if you have sold a house today is impossible to lie to! They keep me more accountable than anyone in my group Accountability Central.
Jason - This goal setting with the family is a wonderful thing and I think you should try it! Your kids will help you even more than they do now, when they know that they are involved in the outcome.
Todd
you are an inspiration. greetings from Burbank CA
Hi Todd,
I also like your house graphic. So these investment properties that you buy--do you keep them as rentals? Are you going to turn them over into larger units? This is all very interesting!! I am going to take a look at your accountability group.
Merry Christmas.
Todd,
Great idea. I did set a goal that was twice what last years was, and I made it! But I never said what the reward was, it seems that when it actually came there was no room for extras...I think I will adopt this idea for 2008. Have a wonderful time in Disney! (I know you will be going)
Merry Christmas