Mission Statement and Goal Setting for Sales and Marketing Professionals
Mission Statement and Goal Setting for Sales and Marketing Professionals
The first step on your road to success is to outline and define where you want to go and the kind of sales and marketing professional you want to become. This is accomplished by writing a professional mission statement. This should be a brief statement (about four sentences) that describes the person you are or the one you want to be. This is the rudder on the ship that will determine your direction. It is your road map to success. Everything you do in your sales or marketing role should be in line with your mission statement. Living your mission statement is the true meaning of success.
Research shows that you are many times more effective when you have a vision or goal. It gives us the capacity to live beyond where we are now -- to go where we want to be in the future. Without it we wander, with no true sense of direction and focus.
Mission statements should be lifelong visions. They should be based on realities, not illusions. Do not set a vision or mission based on what others think of you; in order for you to have passion it must come from inside. The most significant part of our lives is a combination of our inner core beliefs and values. Being in tune with this inner guide defines our values and uniqueness. A mission statement manifests this into action.
A mission statement should have the following:
Solid connection with the inner self and our purpose in life.
Expression of our own unique gifts and talents.
Integration of the four areas of life: mental, physical, emotional and spiritual.
Connection to concrete goals and realistic expectations.
It is important to write down your mission statement and keep it nearby as you go about your work. This makes your mission more real and tangible. It is written to provide inspiration and motivation toward your development as a sales person and/or marketing professional. It is a way of bringing greater meaning and purpose into your life. A mission statement is a way of accepting personal responsibility for your life. We choose who we are, or who we want to be. A mission statement is a definition of this and absolutely crucial to bringing balance to our lives and the many roles we play.
As you write your mission statement, review your values, talents, principles, and skills. Ask yourself the following questions: What is my life purpose? What is really important to me? Does it fit with my values? Answer these questions by listening to your inner voice, emotions, and intuitive thoughts.
Road Signs: Goals and Objectives
The development of objectives and goals follow the actual writing of a mission statement. Goals and objectives help you create a plan to live your mission statement. This should include career goals, financial objectives, sales goals, appointments, account development, conversion rates and all other key aspects of your sales and marketing process. Limit your goals and objectives to a few key items and focus on the areas that are most important to your mission statement. This should be a list of the most important items that can positively impact your professional career. These are the areas to focus your attention.
It is up to you to determine which areas are priorities, given the nature of your task at hand. Many of us do not follow these guidelines because we are trapped in putting out fires, meeting deadlines or managing our day-to-day work. This does not usually put you on the track to achieving goals. Taking care of the urgent -- but not important -- business that arises will meet short-term needs and you will feel productive, but the long-term growth and achievement are not present.
In order to obtain a goal, do not try to hold on too tightly to the desired outcome. This will come across to others as desperation when you perform your duties. Be able to let go, walk away, and not let your emotions keep you in something that will not produce a desired end result. Do not become too attached to anything. Too much attachment can lead to disappointment when things beyond your control do not work out.
When setting goals, ask the following: What is the goal I am trying to achieve? What is the actual end-result? Why am I trying to achieve this goal? How does it connect to my mission statement? How am I going to achieve this goal? How will I measure the results?
Goals will usually mean change. Some people resist change because of fear. However, as you realize that change toward your true mission is a change for the better, you can overcome fears.
Tips on setting goals:
Does the goal support your personal mission statement?
Get input from others, yet stay true to your own values and mission.
Take time to reflect on the goals.
Are the goals realistic?
How is future growth or expansion built into the goals?
How can goal achievement be measured, monitored and changed as needed? How do unexpected events factor into goals?
How will you modify your goals?
Are the goals too limiting? Think big.
Mode of Transportation: Personal Action Plan
The step that brings your mission statement and goals to reality is an action plan. A mission statement without an action plan is a fantasy. The action plan makes the thought concrete and determines the action you are going to take to reach those goals. The action steps should tie into the mission statement. Remember, the way you live your life defines who you are. In your action plan, focus on the practical applications needed to reach your goals and achieve your mission. It is important to understand the theory; however, nothing can replace focused action. What you do and how you do it is more important than how fast you did it. Many of us live with the imbalance of doing things that need to be done. These things are not necessarily the most important things to do. Set the goals and actions that are essential to reaching your mission. It is not as simple as a to-do list whereby items are checked off as you complete the project. The action plan is a detailed set of activities that are usually challenging and directly related to your goals and objectives.
Are We There Yet? Check Your Progress
Buy a calendar or day-timer to track the daily, weekly and monthly activities of your action plan. Begin each day by reviewing your schedule or plan for the day. Those items that are not accomplished should be carried over to the next day.
Use good common sense and keep the focus on the important areas already outlined. Prioritize these activities and set a time value to the ones that need it. Review this process at the end of the week and see where you are. Evaluate whether or not the week was true to your mission statement and on track to reach your goals. Did you spend all week putting out fires? Or are you making things move in the right direction? For example, did you strengthen your relationships with customers, accounts, employees and coworkers? Did your weekly activities make a difference in the quality of your professional life? Are you on target to your goals? Change and improve the action plan as needed.
Arrive at Your Destination: Success
Your mission statement may change over time as you grow and develop. That is to be expected.
Remember to put the past behind you and live out your vision of the future, rather than the memories and emotions of the past. The past is gone and you must let it go.
Self-development and goal setting can help you create your own future through hard work, commitment and persistence.
Have fun as you follow your mission. When you love your work it stops being work and becomes enjoyment. Lighten up and stay focused on the big picture. Do not allow little things to get to you because most of what happens to us is a small occurrence in the big scheme of life. When obstacles come up, see them as challenges and learning experiences; then overcome them. These things are a part of life. We have the power to choose how we will deal with them. Problems and obstacles make life a challenge and make rewards more meaningful.
You can change behaviors to remain in step with your values, mission and goals. Practice and visualize the person you want to become and you will become that person. What you practice and do is who you are. Living your personal mission statement is the true meaning of success.
Mission Statement and Goal Setting for Sales and Marketing Professionals - To learn more about this author, visit Thomas Young's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
A Road Map: Your Personal Mission Statement
The first step on your road to success is to outline and define where you want to go and the kind of sales and marketing professional you want to become. This is accomplished by writing a professional mission statement. This should be a brief statement (about four sentences) that describes the person you are or the one you want to be. This is the rudder on the ship that will determine your direction. It is your road map to success. Everything you do in your sales or marketing role should be in line with your mission statement. Living your mission statement is the true meaning of success.
Research shows that you are many times more effective when you have a vision or goal. It gives us the capacity to live beyond where we are now -- to go where we want to be in the future. Without it we wander, with no true sense of direction and focus.
Mission statements should be lifelong visions. They should be based on realities, not illusions. Do not set a vision or mission based on what others think of you; in order for you to have passion it must come from inside. The most significant part of our lives is a combination of our inner core beliefs and values. Being in tune with this inner guide defines our values and uniqueness. A mission statement manifests this into action.
A mission statement should have the following:
Solid connection with the inner self and our purpose in life.
Expression of our own unique gifts and talents.
Integration of the four areas of life: mental, physical, emotional and spiritual.
Connection to concrete goals and realistic expectations.
It is important to write down your mission statement and keep it nearby as you go about your work. This makes your mission more real and tangible. It is written to provide inspiration and motivation toward your development as a sales person and/or marketing professional. It is a way of bringing greater meaning and purpose into your life. A mission statement is a way of accepting personal responsibility for your life. We choose who we are, or who we want to be. A mission statement is a definition of this and absolutely crucial to bringing balance to our lives and the many roles we play.
As you write your mission statement, review your values, talents, principles, and skills. Ask yourself the following questions: What is my life purpose? What is really important to me? Does it fit with my values? Answer these questions by listening to your inner voice, emotions, and intuitive thoughts.
Road Signs: Goals and Objectives
The development of objectives and goals follow the actual writing of a mission statement. Goals and objectives help you create a plan to live your mission statement. This should include career goals, financial objectives, sales goals, appointments, account development, conversion rates and all other key aspects of your sales and marketing process. Limit your goals and objectives to a few key items and focus on the areas that are most important to your mission statement. This should be a list of the most important items that can positively impact your professional career. These are the areas to focus your attention.
It is up to you to determine which areas are priorities, given the nature of your task at hand. Many of us do not follow these guidelines because we are trapped in putting out fires, meeting deadlines or managing our day-to-day work. This does not usually put you on the track to achieving goals. Taking care of the urgent -- but not important -- business that arises will meet short-term needs and you will feel productive, but the long-term growth and achievement are not present.
In order to obtain a goal, do not try to hold on too tightly to the desired outcome. This will come across to others as desperation when you perform your duties. Be able to let go, walk away, and not let your emotions keep you in something that will not produce a desired end result. Do not become too attached to anything. Too much attachment can lead to disappointment when things beyond your control do not work out.
When setting goals, ask the following: What is the goal I am trying to achieve? What is the actual end-result? Why am I trying to achieve this goal? How does it connect to my mission statement? How am I going to achieve this goal? How will I measure the results?
Goals will usually mean change. Some people resist change because of fear. However, as you realize that change toward your true mission is a change for the better, you can overcome fears.
Tips on setting goals:
Does the goal support your personal mission statement?
Get input from others, yet stay true to your own values and mission.
Take time to reflect on the goals.
Are the goals realistic?
How is future growth or expansion built into the goals?
How can goal achievement be measured, monitored and changed as needed? How do unexpected events factor into goals?
How will you modify your goals?
Are the goals too limiting? Think big.
Mode of Transportation: Personal Action Plan
The step that brings your mission statement and goals to reality is an action plan. A mission statement without an action plan is a fantasy. The action plan makes the thought concrete and determines the action you are going to take to reach those goals. The action steps should tie into the mission statement. Remember, the way you live your life defines who you are. In your action plan, focus on the practical applications needed to reach your goals and achieve your mission. It is important to understand the theory; however, nothing can replace focused action. What you do and how you do it is more important than how fast you did it. Many of us live with the imbalance of doing things that need to be done. These things are not necessarily the most important things to do. Set the goals and actions that are essential to reaching your mission. It is not as simple as a to-do list whereby items are checked off as you complete the project. The action plan is a detailed set of activities that are usually challenging and directly related to your goals and objectives.
Are We There Yet? Check Your Progress
Buy a calendar or day-timer to track the daily, weekly and monthly activities of your action plan. Begin each day by reviewing your schedule or plan for the day. Those items that are not accomplished should be carried over to the next day.
Use good common sense and keep the focus on the important areas already outlined. Prioritize these activities and set a time value to the ones that need it. Review this process at the end of the week and see where you are. Evaluate whether or not the week was true to your mission statement and on track to reach your goals. Did you spend all week putting out fires? Or are you making things move in the right direction? For example, did you strengthen your relationships with customers, accounts, employees and coworkers? Did your weekly activities make a difference in the quality of your professional life? Are you on target to your goals? Change and improve the action plan as needed.
Arrive at Your Destination: Success
Your mission statement may change over time as you grow and develop. That is to be expected.
Remember to put the past behind you and live out your vision of the future, rather than the memories and emotions of the past. The past is gone and you must let it go.
Self-development and goal setting can help you create your own future through hard work, commitment and persistence.
Have fun as you follow your mission. When you love your work it stops being work and becomes enjoyment. Lighten up and stay focused on the big picture. Do not allow little things to get to you because most of what happens to us is a small occurrence in the big scheme of life. When obstacles come up, see them as challenges and learning experiences; then overcome them. These things are a part of life. We have the power to choose how we will deal with them. Problems and obstacles make life a challenge and make rewards more meaningful.
You can change behaviors to remain in step with your values, mission and goals. Practice and visualize the person you want to become and you will become that person. What you practice and do is who you are. Living your personal mission statement is the true meaning of success.
Mission Statement and Goal Setting for Sales and Marketing Professionals - To learn more about this author, visit Thomas Young's Website.
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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Dave KurlanDave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website |
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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Linda RichardsonLinda Richardson is the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Richardson, a global sales training and performance improvement company. As a recognized leader in the industry, she has won the coveted Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sales Excellence and she was identified by Training Industry, Inc. as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Training Professionals.” Ms. Richardson is credited with the movement to Consultative Selling and is the author of ten books on selling and sales management, including Sales Coaching — Making the Great Leap from Sales Manager to Sales Coach, and Stop Telling, Start Selling. She teaches sales and management at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Executive Development Center. Linda is a frequent speaker at industry and client conferences, has been published extensively in industry and training journals, and has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Nation’s Business, Selling Power, Success, and The Conference Board Magazine. Learn more about Richardson's sales training and performance improvement solutions at http://www.richardson.com web - Visit Linda Richardson's Website |
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John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
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George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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John PowerJohn Power, founder of Biltmore Franchise Consulting, has extensive experience developing and marketing franchises and business opportunities. He has been in and around franchising for over twenty years. From 1980 through 1990 he conceptualized, organized, and developed the American Video Association. He grew AVA to 2,000 national members, before selling the company it 1990. It was later merged into another home video marketing company. From 2000 to 2005 he worked as a contract marketing and human resources consultant to several local and national companies. In 2005 Mr. Power began working as a franchise development consultant on a full-time basis. Since that time he has helped more than three dozen companies initiate and develop their franchising program. He notes that there are many companies interested in developing a franchise program, and who need his specialized assistance. Mr. Power is a “hands-on” franchise consultant. He said, “I am the ‘nuts and bolts’ person who tends to the details for my clients.” Mr. Power holds a B.S. degree with a major in Marketing. See: www.biltmorefranchise.com You may contact Mr. Power at: jpower@biltmorefranchise.co - Visit John Power's Website |
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