What does thinking BIG mean?
By Jessica Sitomer
Tom Hank’s character, Josh Baskin, wants to be big. So what does he do? He makes a wish. Sure enough, the next morning, he’s big. Literally, he’s a 12-year-old boy in a grown man’s body, who now has to learn how to deal with a grown-up world. Josh wanted to be big so badly, but in doing so, he never stopped to think or plan what the consequences would be.
Have you thought about what you want? I would imagine so. Have you thought about how you could realistically achieve what you want?
In December, I had asked all of my clients what they wanted to accomplish by this time next year.
Take a moment and answer that question for yourself. By December 31st, 2013, what do you want to have achieved?
Long-term goals can be big. If they are, they have to be broken down into manageable steps. Otherwise, they will remain overwhelming goals with no plan on how to make them achievable.
When I asked my clients how much money they would need to make at their craft to be able to quit their “day-job,” most of them didn’t know. When I told them to choose an amount they’d feel comfortable with, and they did, I then asked them how many days of work in their craft would they need to make that much money. Again, they didn’t know.
You have to know. You have to have a plan. Because if you don’t know how many days of work you need, how are you going to know how many people you need to meet, how many events you have to attend, how many networking organizations you have to join, and how many mentors you have to consult?
Saying, “My goal for 2013 is to work on a project I’m passionate about,” is not a controllable goal if you are not established in your field. Try setting a goal for getting a job… period. That is something you can work for and people can understand. If you tell me you want a job that you’re passionate about, I don’t know what that means. I may not offer you a job on one of my projects because I don’t think you’d be passionate about it. People make assumptions based on their own beliefs. If you tell me your goal is to get a job as an assistant editor on a 10 million dollar feature film- that is crystal clear.
When choosing goals for what you want to have accomplished by this time next year, make them realistic, measurable, and easy to communicate with others.
And… Action!
1. Choose 1 goal for 2013 that would take your career to the next level.
2. Decide by which month you want to achieve that goal. Consider what you have to accomplish beforehand to make this possible knowing the timetables/seasons of the industry.
3. Choose up to 10 smaller goals that must be accomplished to make your big goal possible. Put them on a calendar or timetable spanning the months that lead up to the date you set for yourself for achieving your big goal.
4. Make all your goals measurable. Because by measuring the steps to your goals, you are able to tell how well, or poorly, your plan is working.
DESIGNING A PLAN FOR SUCCESS IS CRUCIAL TO YOUR BUSINESS. A plan will give you clarity, focus, milestones, and purpose, and when you accomplish it, you will feel Big!
