5 Things All Goals Must Have

So many times our goals are just these vague targets that are in the back of our mind. But just like everything else in your business that has a system, there is a system to setting goals. If you truly want to achieve your goals, here are five things all goals must have.

1. Specific: Your goals have to be specific. If you your goal is to lose weight, you can’t just say that you want to lose weight. You have to have a specific target that you are shooting toward. If you want to lower your food cost, you must identify a specific target through budgeting that leads to the profits you want and need to make in your business.
2. Measurable: Your goal has to be quantifiable. When losing weight you have to measure pounds and inches so you know where you are starting and where you have to go. When lowering your food cost you have to measure where you are using inventories and calculate the results weekly. Anything measured will improve!
3. Time limit: If you say you want to lose 20 pounds, but set no time limit, the goal is vague and limits your motivation and urgency to achieve your goal. Am I going to lose 20 pounds over 10 years or two months? This makes a huge difference in the way your mind works on the steps it takes to achieve your goals. If I am going to lower my food cost, I have to complete all of my recipe cards. To reach my goal, I have to set a time limit to get them done. If I am losing 20 pounds in two months I have to lose about 2.5 pounds a week. If I am getting recipe cards done in one month and have 100 to complete, I know I need to do 25 per week.
4. Your goal, not anyone else’s: You have to own your goals or you will give up on them too easily. These are your dreams and it is up to you to go get them. It may be that you have to micromanage your kitchen manager to do the recipe cards or make them use the purchase allotment system for all of their ordering. If it is to be, it’s up to me!
5. Written down: Your goals must be written down and displayed in a place where you see them often, like on your computer screen or mirror. Writing them down and keeping them visible keeps them top of mind and taking the steps to achieve them daily and weekly.

Test it. Set some goals and apply these five characteristics. You will achieve them. Take action today and go out and get what is yours!

If you’d like to learn more about using systems to reach your goals in your restaurant, request a free demo of our restaurant management software, Restaurant Systems Pro.

For an example of how to get more done so you can reach your goals, download our free report, The Secret to Holding Your Managers Accountable. You can also view tips for restaurant management training and restaurant management systems in your restaurant on this YouTube channel playlist.