Goal card

A goal card is a visualization tool that helps write down your goals and make up a plan for achieving them, all in one place. 

This term was once used by many motivation coaches. Bob Proctor, a world-renowned speaker and coach, is one of them. The Bob Proctor goal card pertained mostly to achieving financial success. Now, this tool may be applicable to all spheres of life, business included. 

It’s a common and necessary practice for companies to set a list of goals for every year, quarter, and month. Yet only 60 out of 300 small businesses attempt to keep track of them. As a result, while some targets are achieved, others are never put into action. In this scenario, a goal card enables business owners, managers, or team members to reify all targets instead of just keeping them in a subconscious mind.  

Importance of goal cards for business

The reasons you might need to implement goal cards (if you haven’t done it yet) are the following:

• A goal card allows controlling the goal achievement in midstream. It’s natural that you always divide long-term goals into intermediate objectives. A goal card will help you focus on your intermediate results.
• A goal card instills motivation. Having a set of goals recorded, you are ignited to fulfill your plan more effectively. For a team member who has the company’s bonus system in mind, goal cards may become the best encouragement.
• A goal card allows for continuous business growth. Using goal cards, all members of your company get adjusted to regularly evaluate their performance, improve their productivity, and increase the overall business potential, which can’t but contribute to its non-stop growth.

Tips on writing a goal card

Your goal card is solely your business. You may make it the way you find working for you. However, if you plan to start using it today and think of any landmarks, these tips will help you: 

Choose readable size

Some experts claim that a perfect solution for your goals is a 3×5 index card since it is the easiest to carry. That’s pretty logical. Yet, for business purposes, you’ll more likely stick it to your board or computer or just pin it to the magnet board. The key is to be able to clearly see your goals every day.

Use one card for one goal

Writing several goals on a card will most likely distract your attention from the one that is in priority at the moment. You should dedicate each goal card to only one goal. As an option, you may use sticky notes of different colors for different goals. 

Make the main goal card prominent

Your main goal should stand out from the rest as your core ambition. Make it bigger, put it in the center of the board, or highlight it in a different color. As soon as you reach smaller goals, you will feel exhilarated by how closer you become to your primary target. 

Choose attention-grabbing ink

Some experts claim that using blue ink is the best choice for making goal cards because the blue color boosts focus and mental strain. Anyway, you know yourself better than anyone, so choose the color that will help you pay constant attention to the goals you are pursuing. 

Highlight your goal

Underline your actual goal so it could catch your attention all the time when you look at your card. If you use digital notes as your goal cards, make your goals bold. 

Don’t use the future tense for goal-setting

While writing your goal on a goal card, don’t aim at the distance far ahead. If you feel ‘To do’ structure sounds encouraging, use it. Still, the most recommended way to motivate yourself is to begin with ‘I want to.’ Thus, you’ll refocus your attention from the obligation to your desire to reach your destination point.

Edit your goal card 

Goals tend to be modified with time, depending on some inner and outer business processes. Be ready to update your goal card whenever you come across any changes in the company’s objectives globally.

Read your goal card at least twice a day

Start your every working day by looking at the goal card that is your top priority. Once kept in mind, it will move you through your daily tasks. Read your goal card once again at the end of the working day to get fueled with motivation to continue tomorrow. 

Use a scrum board

If you choose to make your goal cards in the form of sticky notes, make the best of a scrum board. This tool is especially popular with teams that always need to visualize and divide their tasks into targeted, processed, and completed ones. 

You may use this technique for your personal goals. This way, you will get another portion of motivation seeing the results of your work in the right column: 

How to compose a goal card

To visualize your goal and make it memorable, think of how you’ll structure your card. Here are basic recommendations on what to write on it so that you could always stay focused on what you wish to achieve:

Start on a positive note 

Mention one of your previous achievements connected with the current goal, for example:

“I am happy I could convert five prospects into our customers last month.”

Voice your current goal 

If it’s connected with numbers, a good solution will be to add such phrases as ‘At least’ or ‘A minimum of.’ Remember that every goal should have a deadline; otherwise, it is just an intention: 

“I want to close at least eight deals with new prospects till 30 November.” 

Mention your feelings afterward

Add how you’ll feel upon achieving your goal (e.g., happy, excited, relaxed, etc.) and mention what results it will bring. Don’t say ‘If.’ ‘If’ is about doubts, but you must be sure you’ll hit the target. So Instead use ‘When’ or ‘As soon as:’

“When I achieve this goal, I will feel even more motivated to continue growing the customer base.”

End it with encouraging words

Stay supportive of your efforts. Remember to voice out that you believe in yourself:

“I’ll do it for sure!”

Put down a date

Once you’ve written your goal card, be sure to put a date to see in the future how much time it took you to achieve the goal. This will help you evaluate your work and elaborate on how you may do it more effectively:

“20 November 2020”

Goal card template and example

There is not the only goal card sample you may find on the web, yet most examples will deal with spheres out of the business world. The following goal card template will help you create a goal card specifically for your business role:

I am _____ (Your feeling). I could _____ (Your previous achievement connected with your current goal). Now I want to _____ (Your current goal). As soon as I reach this goal, I will feel ______ (Emotions about achieving the goal).   And so it is! ____ (Current date)

And here is the goal card example you may use for one of your sales prospecting objectives:

Wrapping up

There’s no better way to bring your thoughts to reality than visualizing them. When it comes to your business goals, the first thing to do on your way to achieving them is simply voicing out what you want to achieve. And that’s where goal cards can come in handy. 

This is the tool you create on your own and adjust to your senses and mind. If you have any doubts whether it works, try making your first goal card now and see how it will boost your motivation and productivity.