New Year = New Systems. NOT New Goals.

As we near the end of the year and prepare to start a new one, you hear a lot about new goals. We would like to challenge you with a new concept:

“Forget about setting goals. Focus on systems instead” (James Clear, Atomic Habits).

What is a goal, and why do we set them? By definition, a goal is “the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.” (Oxford Dictionary). While goals are great, they aren’t setting you up for success. You can set as many goals as you want, but the act of setting them will not move you forward. This might seem obvious; a goal will only be achieved if a plan is put in place. While this is somewhat true, even the act of setting goals and making plans can be motivational, only to not be followed through. The key is simple: have a system.

James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits, states that “Goals are about the results you want to achieve; systems are about the processes that lead to those results.” This statement perfectly describes the importance of goals, and the necessity of systems to support those goals. If you want to achieve your desired results, you need to have strong, defined, and simple systems in place. 

For example, if your goal is to increase your Maintenance BOB by 10% next year, you need to develop a system. This needs to include a sales strategy for your Sales Rep. Maybe you will include a referral program with your existing clients. Closing the sales is only part of the battle. After the sales are won, you must perform. This means your sales goal needs to be supported by a recruitment and training system. This will help you keep your new, and existing clients happy. Don’t forget, if you increase your BOB by 10% new clients, but lose 5% of your retention, you have not met your goal. I think the point is clear, even a simple goal might require a team of supporting systems. 

We help landscape companies like yours define their goals, evaluate their processes, and implement new systems where needed. For example, we offer services such as developing and tracking an Annual Budget, defining, and implementing Estimation systems (such as your production rates and an Estimation Template), and implementing Quality Control programs. Whatever your Landscape Business goal is, we can help you build a system to support it. If you want to reflect on your business growth a year from now and see outstanding results, reach out to us today.