jerred

Today, I’m sharing my personal roadmap for the year and my goals—not the nitty-gritty of daily operations, but the broad strokes guiding my journey forward.

Here’s what’s on my agenda:

Leadership Through Data

2023 ended with me crafting an operating system for all my business endeavors, a tool that not only streamlines workflow but also centralizes data reporting and communication. This year, I’m doubling down on leveraging data for leadership. It’s about making swift, informed decisions based on real-time insights, ensuring that every metric, out of the many we monitor, serves as a beacon for action.

The Need for Speed

Speed, especially in decision-making, is crucial. It’s about identifying bottlenecks and addressing them without delay. Waiting months to pivot can stifle growth, whereas a prompt response can catalyze progress. This agility, however, doesn’t mean being reckless; it’s about strategic, timely adjustments to keep the momentum going.

Tracking the Better Human Business Score

I’ve discussed the Better Human Business Score before—a simple yet profound metric combining profit margins with days off to gauge both financial and personal freedom. This year, I’m committed to tracking and improving this score, advocating for a balance that doesn’t just aim for profitability but also for quality of life.

Fueling My Creative Side

Despite my data-driven tendencies, I’m also keen to nurture my creative side, particularly through writing and podcasting. Regularly engaging in creative activities sparks new ideas and enriches content, blending analytical rigor with inventive flair.

Less of the Same

Lastly, I’m challenging myself to break the mold—to venture beyond the familiar and embrace innovative approaches that promise not just incremental but exponential growth. It’s about thinking bigger, daring more, and diversifying strategies to reach uncharted territories of success.

As we march forward into 2024, I encourage you to reflect on your goals and how you plan to achieve them. Let’s not let our ambitions fizzle out as the year progresses. It’s the sustained effort, the willingness to tackle the hard stuff, that transforms aspirations into achievements.

Try harder,

-JM

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

(00:00) Introduction – Back from a break and ramping up to twice-weekly episodes.

(00:22) Goals Overview – Setting the stage for discussing broad, impactful goals for the year.

(01:02) Leadership Through Data – Building an operating system for better data-driven leadership.

(02:22) The Need for Speed – Emphasizing quick decision-making to accelerate growth.

(04:21) Better Human Business Score – Tracking and improving on profitability and personal freedom.

(06:05) Fueling Creativity – Commitment to writing and podcasting for creative balance.

(07:28) Less of the Same – Encouraging innovative approaches for exponential growth.

(08:56) Conclusion – A call to maintain momentum and embrace challenges throughout the year.

As we stand on the brink of a new year, the question of what we aim to achieve looms large. Not just the day-to-day advancements, but the purposeful strides toward our most ambitious desires: A.K.A. GOALS. It’s not about what happens by chance; it’s about what we set out to accomplish through intention and focus.

The Essence of Goal Setting

Goal setting isn’t merely listing aspirations; it’s a structured exercise to envision and articulate what we genuinely want our futures to hold. This involves detailed planning, from the grandiose ‘someday’ that span over five years to the immediate actions we can take today. It’s about aligning our daily tasks with our ultimate ambitions, ensuring every step is meaningful and directed.

Goals From Someday to Today: A Strategic Blueprint

1. Identify Your Someday: Start by envisioning where you want to be or what you want to achieve in five or more years. This could be a personal milestone, a financial target, or even a tangible asset. The key is to desire earnestly, uninfluenced by external judgments or expectations.
2. Craft Your Action Lists: Transition from a broad list of everything you could do to a prioritized list of what you should do. This refinement process helps focus on the actions most likely to propel you toward your goal.
3. Goal Setting to Now: Break down your long-term aspiration into progressively smaller targets—five-year, three-year, one-year, and so forth, down to what you can do right now. This method ensures your immediate actions are steps toward your ultimate objective.
4. Understand Your Why: Dig deep into why you want to achieve your ‘someday’. Understanding your motivations at a fundamental level will provide the resilience and drive needed to pursue your goals, especially when obstacles arise.

Reflecting on Your Path

The journey of achievement is deeply personal and requires honesty, dedication, and introspection. It’s not enough to float through life, making decisions on the fly. A structured approach to setting and working toward goals can exponentially increase your effectiveness and satisfaction.

Conclusion

As 2023 draws to a close and we look forward to 2024, I challenge you to take this goal-setting journey seriously. Dedicate the time and effort to truly define what you want and understand why you want it. Remember, achieving greatness is not about random acts but about purposeful, directed effort. If you’re not willing to put in the work, all I can say is, try harder. Here’s to a goal-oriented, transformative 2024!

-Jerred Moon

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

(00:00) Introduction – Reflecting on goals for 2024.

(00:35) Taking a Break – Announcing a pause in podcasting until mid-January.

(01:00) Goal Setting Exercise Introduction – Encouraging active participation in goal setting.

(02:00) Identifying the Someday Goal – The first step in the goal-setting process.

(03:05) Transition from Could to Should Do Lists – Prioritizing actions toward achieving the Someday Goal.

(06:01) Setting Goals to Now – Narrowing down from long-term goals to immediate actions.

(09:35) Understanding Your Why – Deep diving into the motivations behind your goals.

(13:00) Conclusion – Encouragement to commit to the goal-setting process for a successful 2024.

As we edge closer to the new year, it’s crucial for business owners to not just set goals but to strategically plan how to attract more clients, customers, and patients. Holiday promotions are a great way to do that.

Embracing the Grain

Historically, I prided myself on going against the grain, avoiding promotional campaigns or sponsorships to maintain a sense of uniqueness. However, there’s a fine line between principled stands and needless defiance. For instance, my initial reluctance to participate in Black Friday sales was more about avoiding conformity than making a principled choice. This mindset cost me significantly, both in terms of potential revenue and growth opportunities.

The Power of New Year Marketing

The start of a new year is ripe with potential for businesses aimed at improving human lives. People are more inclined to seek out services that align with their goals for self-improvement, making it an opportune time for you to offer your solutions. Avoiding the momentum of the new year under the guise of wanting to be different is, simply put, a missed opportunity.

A Simple Marketing Framework for Holiday Promotions

Here’s a straightforward marketing strategy to consider as we approach the new year:

1. Segmentation: Start by identifying who among your audience is interested in making changes in the new year. This can be as simple as sending out an email asking if they’d like to learn more about what you’re offering.
2. Engagement: Once you’ve identified interested individuals, engage them with a series of emails. Educate them about the current state of the industry, how your approach differs, and the unique value you offer.
3. Launch and Scarcity: Launch your offering with clear communication about any limitations, such as availability or special pricing, to create authentic scarcity and urge action.
4. Follow-up: Keep the lines of communication open with reminders and updates as the offer nears its close.

This framework not only respects your audience’s desires but also positions your offering in a way that aligns with their new year motivations.

Conclusion

The key takeaway as we navigate the transition into a new year is not to shun the paths well-traveled for the sake of being different. Also…run a holiday promotion! Instead, focus on strategic, principled decisions that align with your business goals and principles. If the prospect of organizing a New Year campaign seems daunting, remember, the effort you put in now can set the tone for your success in the coming year. If you’re hesitating, my advice is simple: try harder.

-Jerred Moon

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

(00:00) Introduction – The importance of New Year marketing strategies for business owners.

(00:23) Against the Grain – Reflecting on past reluctances to conform to typical marketing strategies and the realization of its cost.

(01:30) Principled Stands vs. Stupidity – Distinguishing between avoiding conformity for a good reason and missing out on opportunities due to stubbornness.

(02:55) The New Year Opportunity – Highlighting the potential of the New Year for businesses aimed at self-improvement and betterment.

(04:27) Marketing Framework Breakdown – Detailed steps for a successful New Year marketing campaign, including segmentation, engagement, launch, and follow-up.

(08:31) Conclusion – Encouragement to embrace strategic marketing efforts for the New Year and a call to action to try harder in the face of challenges.

In today’s competitive business landscape, establishing a winning company culture within your team is not just an advantage; it’s a necessity.

Leadership at the Core

The journey to cultivating a winning culture begins with leadership. Being a leader that commands respect, not out of fear or a desire to be liked, but through trust and integrity, is vital. Your team needs to see you embodying the company’s core values in every action, decision, and interaction. This authenticity builds a foundation of trust that is indispensable for fostering a culture of excellence.

Values vs. Standards

While core values are the beliefs and principles that guide a company, they often remain abstract without actionable standards. Standards are the behaviors and expectations that are lived and breathed daily within the team. For instance, in the military, the core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence are operationalized through specific standards, like fitness requirements. Similarly, in a business context, setting clear standards that align with your core values is crucial for translating ideals into action.

Setting and Upholding Standards

Two standards I advocate for in all my businesses are “Try Harder” and “Don’t Complain.” “Try Harder” is defined as making an attempt in which failure is unreasonable, pushing the team to plan, prepare, and execute with diligence. Meanwhile, “Don’t Complain” fosters a positive, solution-focused mindset, crucial for maintaining morale and productivity.

The Leader’s Role in Company Culture Building

Building a winning culture is an ongoing process that demands consistent effort from the leader. It’s about leading by example, setting clear standards, and holding everyone (including yourself) accountable to those standards. It’s equally important to address and eliminate negativity and complacency, which can undermine the team’s morale and cohesion.

Conclusion

A winning company culture is the backbone of any successful business, but it’s not achieved by accident. It requires a leader who is respected, core values that are clear, and standards that are actionable and upheld. As we strive to build teams that are not just productive but truly exceptional, remember the importance of leadership, values, and standards in turning your vision into reality. If you find yourself struggling in this endeavor, the solution is straightforward: Try harder.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

(00:00) Introduction – The importance of building a winning culture in business.

(00:23) Leadership Fundamentals – Discussing the role of leadership in cultivating a winning culture.

(00:42) From Values to Standards – The transition from abstract core values to actionable standards.

(01:25) The Importance of Respect – Earning respect through trust and adherence to core values.

(02:09) Implementing Standards – Examples of standards that drive a winning culture, such as “Try Harder” and “Don’t Complain.”

(03:30) Military Insights – Drawing parallels between military standards and business standards for excellence.

(04:28) Actionable Advice for Leaders – How to set and uphold standards within your team to foster a culture of success.

(08:37) Conclusion – The critical role of leadership in building a winning team culture and the call to action for leaders to “Try harder.”