Setting Business Intentions and Goals

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So, full disclaimer, this is not the best video I’ve ever recorded.

But, guess what!  One of my goals for my business this year was to let you in more.  To let you see what it’s really like to own a full-time practice (plus other huge projects).  In short, one of my goals is to be more vulnerable with you.  I don’t want you to think that running my practice or my training programs (much less both at the same time!) is super easy for me.  It’s not.

So, in spite of my fatigue the day I recorded this, in spite of the awkwardness of a surprise client right before filming (she cancelled, then showed up anyway), in spite of having a huge list of other things that needed done right then, I wanted to get this done for you.  And this was the perfect time to not pretend.

So I did it, and I tried to just let myself be with you, where I was, without trying to pretend I had it all together.  (Spoiler alert: not a single person on earth “has it all together.”  Seriously, not one single person.  We are all humans.  There is no such thing as “having it all together.”  That’s just something we made up . . . for what reason I cannot even fathom.)

So, instead of pretending to be GREAT! no matter what, like I normally do, I let my guard down as much as I could.  And, it’s not perfect, but it’s not half bad.

Intention/Goal Setting

I don’t think it came across clearly (though other stuff came through great) in the video, so here’s a breakdown:

  1. Before you set any goals, review what’s come before.
  2. We do the review to acknowledge places that still need work, but also to celebrate, to congratulate ourselves, and really own all the stuff that DID happen!  I know for me, in 2016, I didn’t hit my biggest goal but I did achieve a much more important goal – and I didn’t even realize I was doing it!  Sounds weird, but it’s true.  And, I wouldn’t have realized I had achieved it if I hadn’t sat down and intentionally reviewed what happened last year.
  3. Once you’ve reviewed, look for the places where you feel vulnerable, places where your sense of self-worth is challenged.  Look for confusion, fear, shame and journal or talk to your therapist until you figure out what that’s about.  (This stage can go VERY quickly or it can take a while.  Give yourself some space here, if needed.)  We do this so that the hidden stuff doesn’t hold us back in achieving exactly what we want.
  4. Now that you have a clearer sense of what you are working with, set your goals or intentions for this year (or revise them, if needed).
  5. Again, look for places in those goals where you feel vulnerable.  Fear is OK.  Seriously, FEAR IS OK.  Just know what your fears are and that you’re going to work on your goals anyway.
  6. Write down the first 2 or 3 (no more!) steps that need to get done for you to achieve your goals.  For me, this year, it’s clear that my first two or three steps will take 1-3 months to complete.  Once they’re done, I’ll do this whole process over again and reset myself.

Everyone is a little different, and I’ve tried A LOT of different ways of setting goals in the past.  This one feels the best to me.  I’d love to know what you think!

Author Profile

Isabel Spradlin
Isabel Spradlin
Isabel Spradlin has owned her full-time practice since 2007. She has a deep drive to help other massage therapists and bodyworkers to create thriving businesses for themselves. For comprehensive programs to help you do just that, see the 'Programs' tab in the menu.

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