MONDAY BYTES – March 11, 2013
In an interesting meeting I had recently with a talented young singer (thanks, Allie!), we brainstormed what she will need to do to launch a concert series in her hometown. She’s starting with a single concert at a church where she has a connection with the music director.
We focused on her desired outcomes: her measurable results. I asked ‘what success will look like’ but I added a kicker: ‘Specifically.’
Beyond the artistry of the performance itself, would success mean 200 people in the audience? Or finding 3 corporate sponsors for the event? Or coverage in 5 local media outlets? Or having the church music director enthusiastic about having more concerts next season?
While we talked I realized how helpful the question of specific deisired outcome is, and how rarely we ask it of ourselves.
All too often our desired outcomes are vague—as in wanting to “make a difference” or “take our career to the next level.” Without benchmarking specific goals, we don’t actually know how well we’re doing. And unless we’re specific, we don’t know if our goals are appropriate.
For this week: For any current project, how will you know you’ve succeeded? Write it down and make sure it’s measurable. (If you can’t measure it, how do you achieve it?)
Bonus: Measureable outcomes are a typical grant application requirement, so it’s good to get used to checking on your own.
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Dream big, Plan smart, Live well!
