2012 Goal Setting for Doulas, Part 2

In last week’s blog, I encouraged doulas to establish goals for the development of their businesses over the new year. We can think of this goal setting as a type of business plan or marketing calendar. Now, I invite each doula business owner to review the past year. Did you set any goals for yourself in 2011? How did you do (be ruthless here)? Let’s look at the goals themselves. Did they have identified action steps and deadlines attached? Would that have helped you? Did you abandon your plan altogether in the face of obstacles encountered? Have you identified obstacles that keep you from achieving your goals?

How can we work around the obstacles? Here’s a few tips:

  1. Try to remove yourself from the emotions attached to the obstacles and take a more objective view. At this stage, we are simply identifying a list of what makes this hard for you. What frustrations have you experienced related to launching your business?
  2. Examine your beliefs about the obstacles. Do you believe that they are insurmountable? Do you believe that there is only one path over or around that obstacle? Might there be more than one solution? Let your imagination soar. Be open to the idea that the answers will come to you.
  3. Get this all out on the table without pre-judging it or yourself. “Just the facts mam …”
  4. It just might be that the first part of your goal setting for 2012 will need to revolve around resolving fundamental issues, clearing a path to the next, more fruitful steps.
  5. Ask for the help you need. This may be from family members, friends, or professionals. Identify what it is that you cannot accomplish with help or cooperation from others.
Often our unconscious fears keep us from even examining our situation and, until we do that, we can’t move past the obstacles in our path. Next week, Part 3 in our four-part series on 2012 Goal Setting for Doulas explores how to get the help you need to be a successful entrepreneur.

The Doula Business Advisor blog is designed to support the establishment and long-term sustainability of private doula businesses. Patty Brennan is the author of The Doula Business Guide: Creating a Successful MotherBaby Business.

Posted by Patty Brennan on January 10, 2012 • Filed under Doula Business Advisor
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Comments

One Response to “2012 Goal Setting for Doulas, Part 2”

  1. Allison on January 10th, 2012 at 3:10 pm:

    I really enjoyed this post about goal setting! I was especially interested in the tips to work around obstacles; these strategies could help me address obstacles in many areas of my life.