Written by: Vickie Sullivan | December 26, 2019
Planning for 2020: Goals vs. Bandwidth
What I love about the week between Christmas and New Year: the empty space. No real schedule; I can do whatever I want. On the personal side, I recharge. (It’s what spas and hobbies are for.) On the business side, I drill down to regroup and get focused. I finalize my theme of the year and then plot out my growth and client goals based on what 2020 looks like. My approach over the years:
• Travel time. What days are already off the schedule? How do I work with clients during that time? This helps me tie growth with my capacity and availability. It ensures that I only promise what I have bandwidth to deliver. When I’m on the road, it’s all about current clients and commitments. No new projects.
Listen: How to Have the “Bandwidth” Conversation
• Jump-start time. What days will I be home and can be intensely focused? And what do I want to get done during that time? This also helps me have conversations about scope and timing. This is the time I initiate new campaigns and other efforts.
• Writing time. The last thing I want is to be pressured to write blog posts like these. So, I look for empty space to implement my content marketing. This right here is why I sound relaxed on podcasts. Because I’m not rushed and can focus on the conversation we can have.
When I was younger, I had a bad habit of loading up on goals with no idea of my availability to get it all done. Now, I focus based on bandwidth, and my goals are set up for success. I don’t overschedule and then get disappointed later if and when my commitments collide. Result: I grow without feeling overwhelmed.
Now Read This:
- How to Test a New Idea
- Strategic Sounding Boards Give Real-World Advice for When the Rubber Meets the Road