Achieve Business Success: Insights from Steven Bartlett and Nigel Botterill on Goal Setting and Managing Expectations"

Yesterday I had the fortune to attend an in-person event hosted by Nigel Botterill and Steven Bartlett at The National Convention Centre in Birmingham.

I had high expectations from the day - they say to be successful you should do what other successful people do, and both Nigel Botterill and Steven Bartlett are undoubtably VERY successful and influential men.

Steven spoke of his journey to where he is today, and gave some great insights into what drives him. He discussed managing expectations, people and decision making.

I’ll cover more of what I took from him in today’s post...

Managing Your Expectations

Nigel Botterill & Steven Bartlett on stage at the NCC

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People are happiest when their expectations of how their life is going are met.

 Steven Bartlett

This was a statement made by Steven at the event yesterday that really hit home.

It’s true, so many people are unhappy because they’re not where they were expecting to be in life. And those that are happy are content with what they have.

That’s not to say we need or have to settle with what we have to be happy, but that as business owners we are often in the trap of always setting ourselves something else to reach for, another goal to get to. Never finding contentment.

We have to remember the goals we’ve already achieved, and the dreams we’ve reached for that we’ve surpassed, and allow ourselves to be happy in our current state, rather than unhappy because we ‘still’ haven’t achieved the life we want.

We don’t have to stop dreaming, in fact Steven encouraged us to '“Aim higher”. You may not get exactly what you were aiming for, but wherever you land will be more than you were originally striving for.

The key thing is be grateful for the achievements you make along the way. Allow yourself to be happy.

There is no benefit to having wealth, and success if you don’t allow yourself to enjoy the journey. What’s the point in it all if you are miserable and lonely because you haven’t ‘made it’ yet.

Think back to when you first set out in business. What would you have considered success to look like then?

Was it having people come to classes you taught? Was it having your own premises? Was it winning an award? Whatever it was I’m sure it was less than you imagine it to be now.

Acknowledge the successes (however big or small) that you have already had.

Then write down what success looks like for you now, then when you reach it you can be proud, even when the finish line is moved.

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Practice gratitude. The life you are living now is the dream of an old you. The expectations you once had are being exceeded.

 Steven Bartlett

The Importance of Setting Goals

The other section of the event was led by Nigel Botterill, who has built 8 separate million pound companies in his career. He is the man behind Entrepreneurs Circle.

He spoke about goal setting. One of the biggest reasons businesses fail to grow is not mapping out what success looks like.

FACT - The reson most people never reach their goals, is that they don’t define them.
igel Botterill, Entrepreneurs Circle

To goal set properly, you MUST write them down, otherwise they’re just thoughts.

The problem with thoughts is they get forgotten.

How can you see if you’ve reached your goals or even know what to work towards if you’ve not got them to refer back to.

In five years from now you will arrive. The question is where?

If you keep your present disciplines at your present pace, where will you be in 5 years?

Will it be well designed? or Undesigned?

Will it work for you? Goal Setting

My steps for success

Ask yourself these 3 questions

• Why did you start your business? Think back to that day you decided to set up as a business owner.

• Why are you still in it? What keeps you doing what you do?

• What do you want from it long term? Think BIG.

As always implementation is the key to success. The aim of these posts is to get you taking ACTION.