This document outlines a goal-setting challenge for photographers over the next seven weeks, emphasizing the importance of setting clear, meaningful goals to drive motivation and focus. It provides seven practical tips for effective goal achievement, including setting SMART goals and eliminating obstacles. Photographers are encouraged to choose one or two attainable goals to work towards, using the provided strategies for guidance and support.

1. week #7Goal setting and the next 7 weeksFriday Business Challenge (for photographers)

2. take the challenge!Your challenge this week is to set your own goals and challenges for the next 7 weeks.I’ll also give you 7 tips to help you towards setting & achieving your goals.So grab a coffee (or your beverage of choice) and off we go…

3. week #7: goal setting"Goals.There's no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There's no telling what you can do when you believe in them. There's no telling what will happen when you act upon them."Jim Rohn

4. why is goal setting important?Plenty of people get through life without consciously setting goals. But theymay bemissing out on opportunities.Here are some reasons why goal setting matters: Motivation: Goal setting motivates you to achieve what you want or need. Focus: Without goals we can drift from one thing to another resulting in a feeling that time has been wasted on things that are irrelevant, irresponsible or unimportant.Want more reasons? Then keep reading

5. why is goal setting important?Growth: Well chosen goals can take you out of your comfort zone. Anything that does this presents an opportunity for growth and learning. Anticipation: Goal setting gives you something to look forward to.Choice: You choose the direction your business and your life takes!Potential: You know you have it! Goal setting helps you fulfil that potential.

6. how to achieve your goals?I’m sure most of you have set goals before.How many times have you failed to achieve them? Often, I’m sure.Keeping yourself motivated, committed and moving toward the accomplishment of your goals is often tough.Keep reading to get 7 tips to help you on your way…

7. set smart goalsset hard goalsbelieve you canwrite then downeliminate obstaclescheck progressreward yourself7 tips

8. make your goals smartA SMART goal is a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time based. In other words, a goal that is very clear and easily understood.Specific: The goal must clearly state what is to be achieved, by whom, where and when it is to be achieved.Measurable: It has been said that what cannot be measured cannot be managed.Is your goal measurable? How will you measure your progress? What is the measure that will tell you when you get there? 1

9. make your goals smartAchievable: You must believe that you can manage to do what you are setting out to do. Relevant: Your goals must be relevant to what you want to achieve in both the short term and the long term. Time-framed: This sometimes overlaps with the goal being Specific, but you must put a time-frame to your goals.It can prevent you from procrastinating because you know that you are working to a deadline.1a goal is a dream with a time-frame

10. make your goals hard2This concept comes from Mark Murphy (HARD GOALS: The Secrets to Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be). Heartfelt: Heartfelt attachment to your goals will increase the motivation you put towards making your goals happen. "I want this more than anything and nothing is going to get in my way of making it happen"Animated:Create goals that are so vividly alive in your mind that to not reach them would leave youextremely dissatisfied. Visualise size, color, shape, distinct parts, setting, background, lighting, emotions, perspective and movement.

11. make your goals hardRequired: Give procrastination (which kills far too many goals) the boot. Convince yourself and others of the absolute necessity of your goals. Difficult: Construct goals that are difficult to challenge yourself. Identify your goal setting comfort zone and push past it in order to attain the extraordinary results you want."Goal success isn’t determined by daily habits, raw intellect, or writing numbers on a worksheet, it actually depends on the engagement of your brain. HARD goals can help you do that."Mark Murphy 2

12. believe you canEach one of us has a little voice in our head. It is the voice of our sub-conscious, judging self. We discuss events and plans in our minds. This can be both positive and negative. Positive thoughts and planning support the accomplishment of our goals. Negative thoughts and comments affect our self-confidence and impact our ability to accomplish our goals.Listen to your voice butchange its tone by believing in yourself and believing you CAN!3

13. write them downWriting out your goal is your commitment to achieving the goal. Writing a goal is a powerful statement in comparison with vague, half-formulated thoughts in the back of your mind. It is the promise to yourself to pay attention to the accomplishment of the goal. Writing out an action plan with due dates makes the goal even more powerful.4

14. eliminate obstaclesAre there any obstacles which may interfere(or are interfering) with your ability to accomplish yourgoals? If there are, make plans to remove the obstacles or seek help from a friend or family member.If you lack the skills or the time you should consider the option of outsourcing. 5

15. check progressCheck progress and track results regularly. If you’re unhappy with your progress, you need to assess what is keeping you from accomplishing the goals. Ask yourself questions such as, “Is this goal really important?” (If not, why did you want to accomplish it; maybe it’s not important, or less important than other goals.)6

16. reward yourselfEven the accomplishment of a minor goal (or completion of an action that is working towards your goal) is cause for celebration. Don’t depress yourself with thoughts about all you still have to do. Celebrate what you have done. Then move on to the next goal or action.7

17. what’s next? Set 1or 2 goals that you can achieve in the next 7 weeksGo and set yourself some goals for the next 7 weeks.Use these tips to set and achieve your goals.You don’t have to use all of these tips. Pick the tip or tips that will help you the most and…Good luck!

18. Friday Business ChallengeBusiness Challenge for photographers is brought to you by:Robyn Mayne, Sydney, Australia Today is DifferentToday is Different for photography courses, workshops, retreats and networking…for inspiration, strategy and practical how-to tactics…for business skills, photography skills and life skills...