10 Reasons Why Goal Setting Is So Important
We are well into September and now that Q3 is slowly coming to a close, Q4 has been the only thing on my mind. I’ve been brainstorming what I want the rest of the year to look like for me, and a lot of that has involved, self-reflection, creating vision boards and goal setting. Today I want to share with you 10 reasons why goal setting matters and why it is so beneficial to creating life with meaning.
We are well into September and now that Q3 is slowly coming to a close, Q4 has been the only thing on my mind. I’ve been brainstorming what I want the rest of the year to look like for me, and a lot of that has involved, self-reflection, creating vision boards and goal setting. Today I want to share with you 10 reasons why goal setting matters and why it is so beneficial to creating life with meaning.
Goal Setting is eye opening. It makes you realize that if you’re not progressing, you’re stagnant. Nothing is scarier than being in a place you know you shouldn’t be, whether it’s at a dead end job or toxic relationship. As time passes, you may begin to feel stuck. Goal Setting is simply creating the blueprint for how you want your future to unfold and It makes you aware of where you are and where you’re trying to go.
Goal Setting will allow you to become more conscious of how you spend your time. When you have a goal that you are working towards and you really focus on it, you will become conscious of the actions and behaviours that are taking away from your progress.
Goal Setting raises self-awareness. How are you supposed to build the life you want when you don’t know what truly makes you happy? Goal setting requires self-reflection because the bigger the goal, the more compelling your “why” needs to be. You need to have solid reasons for why you won’t give up and why achieving this goal means so much.
Goal Setting will transform you into a better version of yourself. I was always told that achieving your goals isn’t the fulfilling part of goal setting; it’s who you become in the process of chasing what you truly want. Every big goal that you pursue is going to demand a bigger and better version of yourself. The real question you need to ask yourself is, “am I prepared to lay this current version of myself to rest to reinvent myself for the better or am I too attached to who I’ve been?”
Goal Setting will give you a glimpse into the future. If you want the next five years to look better than the last five, start goal setting.
Goal Setting will force you to reassess your friendships and relationships—do your friends motivate and inspire you to take action and pursue your goals? Is your partner interested in developing personally? Do your relationships speed up your progress or slow you down?
Goal Setting will make you aware of what you value – I truly believe that you attract out of life what you are, not what you desire and so if you want better for yourself and your life, you need to get better. Your words, actions and behaviors should reflect the life you are trying to create for yourself and the people you wish to attract into it.
Goal Setting is universally attractive. It is attractive to employers, relationships and friendships. Having goals shows that you have self-respect and standards for yourself and your life. It shows that you are working every day to become a better you, for you!
Goal Setting forces you to become a problem solver—there are going to be plenty inconveniences that you face on the journey of becoming a better version of yourself. One of the most valuable skills you can learn when working towards your goals is being good problem solver. By being flexible with your approaches it will allow you to use your creativity to get yourself through some of your worst roadblocks.
Goal Setting is great for new beginnings—whether you moved to a new city or recently got out of a relationship, goal setting is a great way to reset your mind and focus on what’s coming next.
Submission by: Alejandra Gallo
TIPSY TUESDAY | 5 Tips on Navigating a Networking Event
If your initial thought is how much you dread the discomfort that comes with networking, don’t worry, you’re not alone! The idea of walking into a room filled with strangers and having to talk about yourself is certainly daunting, even to experienced networkers.
If you’re a business owner, or aspiring business owner, networking is a staple in your entrepreneurial tool-kit. Recently, TC from Branch and Leaf wrote a terrific blog post on why networking events are so valuable for business owners. (You can read the benefits of networking for your business here). If your initial thought is how much you dread the discomfort that comes with networking, don’t worry, you’re not alone! The idea of walking into a room filled with strangers and having to talk about yourself is certainly daunting, even to experienced networkers.
In both my personal and professional life, I’ve had to do my fair share of networking. On the personal side, I’ve moved to 2 new cities by myself and I’ve had to throw myself into unfamiliar social environments to meet new people, create connections and ultimately build relationships. On the professional side, I’ve worked the world of outreach for years, and whether it was through my past corporate jobs or my current business, I’ve found myself in many events having to talk to strangers with the same intention: to meet people, create connection, and to build relationships.
Here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the years of awkwardly putting myself out there.
Get ready to take note!
Perspective
Before you even get to the event, get yourself in the right mindset. This is a networking event; its sole purpose is to create an environment for people to come together to meet, mingle, share and connect. This means that everyone in the room is looking to do the same thing you are: connect with someone else in the room! It’s also likely that most people in the room are feeling just as uncomfortable as you are. Remembering that other event attendees are in the same boat as you can relieve some of the pressure, and help you feel less awkward and alone.
Arrive Early
Your initial response might be something like, “yeah, right! I don’t want to be the first one there.” But, in fact, arriving early gives you an advantage. You can get a feel for the space and environment, chat with the event organizers as a warm up, grab yourself a cocktail or a coffee and settle in. Trust me, it feels far more comfortable to start conversing with others as they walk in, rather than entering a room filled with ongoing conversations and trying to insert yourself.
Conversation Starters
They say preparation is the key to success, and networking is no different. So, for your next event, try researching a few conversation starters so you feel prepared in how you will approach anyone you come across at the event. Here are a couple of classics to get you started:
Ask if you can join a conversation – Whether I see someone standing alone or I’m looking to join a group, I always like to lead with “do you mind if I join you?” it’s a gentle way of indicating that I’m looking to connect with someone (especially if I’m joining a group conversation) and people are always welcoming. Alternatively, if you find yourself in a group conversation and you see someone standing by themselves or walking around alone, go and ask them to join your group or conversation. We’re all in this together!
Comment on the environment – talk about how beautiful the space is, or how you feel about the food or drinks, or what you like/dislike about about networking events. This is an easy conversation starter because it’s one thing you are sure to both have in common in that moment.
Be curious about the other person – ask open ended questions about their business or hobbies. Do they enjoy the field they are in? What made them start their business? How do they enjoy spending their time outside of work/business?
Ask them why they’re attending the event – How did they hear about it? What are they hoping to gain? Do they go to other networking events? This helps you connect by talking about the community you are both a part of. You might even gain a new networking wingman!
Bring a Wingman
Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how much you prepare, you still might not be able to shake that awkward feeling of entering a room alone. My suggestion is to bring a networking wingman, that friend who is looking to network and build connections in the community just as much as you are, and try approaching people together. It can feel far less intimidating when you have someone you know and trust by your side. Just try not to get too caught up in conversation with each other. Remember that your intention is to connect with others in the community!
Have fun
At the end of the day, remember why you decided to attend the event; to meet, connect, learn and grow. It’s totally normal to feel awkward and uncomfortable, but try to take some pressure off and just enjoy yourself and the process!
TIPSY TUESDAY | 6 Major Reasons We See Value in Networking Events! YBB + TC Jordens-Harrah | Branch & Leaf
Going to a networking event can seem daunting, especially if you’re a bit of an introvert (like me!) I’m always thinking things like “All those people in that room are going to be looking at me and I have to present my best self or they won’t like me. What if I talk too much or not enough? What if I have a bat in the cave?!”
Going to a networking event can seem daunting, especially if you’re a bit of an introvert (like me!) I’m always thinking things like
“All those people in that room are going to be looking at me and I have to present my best self or they won’t like me. What if I talk too much or not enough? What if I have a bat in the cave?!”
Here’s one of the things I’ve learned over the years- we’re ALL thinking the same things! It’s easy to lie to ourselves and get wrapped up in worry, but these things are not true! Everyone is so focused on their own insecurities in the world that people hardly notice the “problems” we see in ourselves.
The networking events I’ve attended with YEG Boss Babes have quieted that little insecure voice in my head. Honestly the people I’ve met there are always so amazing, they would probably let me know about my bat in the cave in a way that I came out of the interaction feeling COMPLIMENTED. Some sort of friendship witchcraft if you ask me.
I’ve compiled a list of the major reasons I see such value in attending networking events to help you get out of your head and into some new business relationships!
Building Relationships-
We all love building relationships, it’s part of human existence. But you know what else is great? Sometimes those relationships can turn into leads, and sometimes that means $$$! This entrepreneur community looooves supporting each other and often it’s easy to meet people who are looking for exactly the product of service you provide. And hey, you might even find someone providing the product or service YOU’VE been looking for! Win-win if you ask me.
Opportunities-
It’s funny how things work out when you get out of your house and meet new people. There is something to be said for hustling your butt from your computer in your bath robe all day (any sale is a good sale, get it girl!) but any good influencer knows a great way to get your name out there is to collaborate with like-minded people. Collaborating is beneficial for both parties in that you get exposure to a new audience and so does your partner(s). Networking events are a great place to meet people looking to team up and work together!
Connections-
Rolling on that snowball from the previous point, connections are everything! While doing research for this article I kept seeing everywhere “in business it’s not WHAT you know, it’s WHO you know” and honestly that couldn’t be more true. If people don’t know who you are- how in the heck are they ever going to hire you?! You’re great, your product/service is great, now you just need to meet the right people to get that ship a-sailing.
Brand Recognition-
Let’s take a second and think of the brands that spring to mind when I say… leggings. Now what about coffee? What about computers? Yeah, we’re thinking the same thing. Am I wire tapping your brain? NO! Those brands just have awesome brand recognition. You don’t even need to see their company name, the logo is enough! Let’s get your business to the same caliber. You can definitely do it if you play it right, but the walk of a thousand miles always begins with a single step. Get moving!
Increased Confidence-
Like I talked about at the top of the page, when we try new things, it’s easy to get wrapped up in negative self talk (this is probably more of a problem than you’re aware of and I suggest reading UnFu*k Yourself, but that’s another topic) but the easy way to get over that self confidence hill is to jump over it! As soon as you meet someone great and some opportunities start to arise you’ll realize “hey, maybe I am actually good at this. Maybe I do belong here. Maybe this could actually work!”
Sense Of Community-
Us entrepreneurs tend to spend a lot of time surfing the Wi-Fi waves from our kitchen table (or office, if you’re fancier than me) and it’s so easy to feel alone. Staring at screens all day and then finishing it up with a healthy dose of checking out other peoples’ highlight reels on social media is a nasty recipe for low confidence. We all feel it. We all feel lost once in a while and it’s important to get up, put some pants on, and spend time with people who get you and who get the struggle.
I hope you’re feeling inspired to try something new or go out again and meet some new people. Think of all the things you could learn from all your new friends and all the ways you can move your business forward with these sparkly new connections. I hope to see you at the next one!
TC Jordens-Harrah
