Setting Your 2026 Goals

Please Support and Thank our Sponsors:

SETTING YOUR 2026 GOALS

It is the first of the year, and while some have already set their goals for 2026, many others haven’t, it’s never a bad idea to revisit a few fundamentals. Whether you’re setting personal sales goals or company-wide goals for an entire sales team, a quick refresher can make the difference between good intentions and real results.

Before we dive into the different types of goals, there are a few basics you should always consider when you sit down to map out your plan.

What Do I Want to Achieve?

If you don’t know where you’re going, how are you ever going to get there?

Start by reviewing your goals from the previous week, month, or year. How did you do?

• If you struggled to reach them, then setting similar goals for the coming period may be appropriate.
• If you hit them easily, it’s time to raise the bar and create new goals that push you to achieve more.

Goals should stretch you—but not overwhelm you.

What Is My Plan to Get There?

Having goals is great, but without a plan, they’re just wishes.

Every football team wants to score touchdowns, but the teams with the best game plans score the most. The same applies to sales. If your goal is to sell $100,000 in a month, then your plan might include selling $25,000 per week. From there, you can break it down even further by category, product type, or average ticket.

Big goals are achieved by executing smaller, intentional steps consistently.

What Will I Do When the Goal Is Achieved?

At the end of the classic Road Runner and Coyote cartoons, the coyote finally catches the Road Runner—and a thought bubble appears:
“I caught him… now what do you want me to do with him?”

It’s important to know what comes next once a goal is achieved. Most of the time, the next step will be setting a new goal, but whatever it is, you should know the destination before you arrive. Momentum matters, and clear next steps keep it going.

---

Saying, “I want to sell as many necklaces as possible next month,” is not a goal. For goals to be effective, they must have four key characteristics.

1. Goals Must Be Written and Visible

Goals should be written down and posted where they are seen daily.

• Team goals should be posted in a common area where everyone can see them—such as a break room or sales office.
• Personal goals should be placed somewhere you look at often: your desk, planner, or even your phone.

Out of sight is out of mind.

2. Goals Must Be Realistic and Attainable

These are two different ideas, but they go hand in hand.

It sounds great to say, “I’m going to sell $25,000 this month,” but if you’ve never sold more than $20,000, is that realistic? Probably not. A more reasonable goal might be $22,000 or $23,000, depending on your current pace.

The same applies to team goals. If goals are set too high and feel unattainable, motivation disappears. Salespeople become frustrated and apathetic when they feel no amount of effort will ever be enough. Goals should challenge and motivate—but they must still be reachable.

3. Goals Must Be Measurable

A goal without numbers is not a goal.

“I want to sell as much as possible today” is vague and impossible to measure. A better goal would be:
“I sold $2,000 yesterday, so I want to sell $2,200 today.”

That goal is specific, measurable, and actionable.

Team goals work the same way. Whether it’s $100,000 in monthly sales or a 20% year-over-year increase, measurable goals give you a real target and a clear way to track progress.

4. Goals Must Work Together Over Time

There are three types of goals: short-term, mid-range, and long-term.

• Short-term goals are typically monthly.
• Mid-range goals are yearly and should be the sum of your monthly goals.
• Long-term goals usually span a decade and focus on overall growth.

For example, if your yearly goal is to sell $1,000,000, then your monthly goal would average about $83,333, adjusted based on seasonal trends. Hit your monthly goals, and the yearly goal takes care of itself.

Long-term goals work the same way. If your company wants to grow sales by 100% over ten years, that means roughly 10% per year—or about 0.83% per month. When broken down like that, long-term success becomes manageable and realistic.

---

One Final Reminder

Goals are not set in stone—they can and should be adjusted.

If your monthly goal is $10,000 and you hit it by the 20th, raise it to $12,000. If you struggle for a few months in a row, temporarily adjust it downward, rebuild momentum, and then move it back up.

We’re now well into the first quarter. If you’ve already set your goals, take a moment to review them. If you haven’t, start now. Make sure they’re measurable, realistic, and aligned across short-term, mid-range, and long-term timeframes.

Don’t be afraid to adjust them. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.
That’s what setting goals is all about.

Be sure to go to https://principlesforbusinessandlife.com/ – click on Our Viewpoint Newsletter and read an incredible article titled:
Choosing to Be the light This Christmas Season

“The light that inspires kindness and hope reveals truth before it can be passed on” – Bryan Dodge – Dodge Development

Start the NEW YEAR off right – Give Your Staff The Tools They Need To Be Successful!

On Sale For 1/2 Price

The Train The Trainer Course –

Includes the Complete PMSA Retail Sales Training Program &

The Complete Retail Sales Management Training Program!

Normally $995

Now Only $495 includes shipping

Go To www.princplesforbusinessandlife.com

Click On Training Tools to

place your order

Have your staff subscribe to the Munchies Newsletter and please pass this along to others within your circle of influence.