Reflecting and Recalibrating – Goal Setting Tips to Start the New Decade Off on the Right Foot

By Jackie Friedman, CTC, CTIE

President, Nexion Travel Group

It is hard to believe 2019 is coming to a close and we’re about to kick off a new decade! Now is the perfect time to reflect on successes and challenges you achieved in this past year and focus on a goal or two for what you’d like to gain in 2020 for yourself and your travel business.

As part of reflecting on 2019, did you achieve your goals? If yes, did you celebrate? If not, have you reassessed your goals to see if they are still relevant to your business and to evaluate any barriers that prevented you from attainment? Perhaps your business goals were not aligned with your personal goals, which may have been intentional or not.

Take a moment to review learnings from how you did this year and determine where you want to go moving forward. Why is this so important? I think Steven Covey states it best in his bestselling book, 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, by encouraging us to “begin with the end in mind.” To be successful, you must make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life or business – then establish a plan to help you get there.

For those of you who are members of Nexion Travel Group® or know me well, you’ve heard me coach my recommendations that you, as a business owner, find the discipline and make the time to work ON your business and not just IN it. The truth is … first you must define what success means to you. Think of it as a destination, and then develop a tactical plan to help you achieve it. Goal setting allows you to focus on your path to success and provides you a benchmark for determining whether you are actually succeeding.

In addition to setting powerful, SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound), I highly encourage you to ensure your established goals are motivating to you. Focus on why they’re important and what the value to you is in achieving them. If you aren’t motivated, it’s likely you won’t put in the effort required to make them happen. Goal achievement requires commitment. 

I also recommend that you develop a tactical plan of action to achieve these goals and write them down. This step is often missed in the process of goal setting. Don’t get so focused on the outcome that you forget to plan all the steps needed along the way and that you review them regularly (at least quarterly at a minimum). By keeping track of individual steps and crossing them off when completed, you'll realize you’re making progress toward your ultimate goal. Revisiting them regularly also allows you to tweak them based on the shifting travel marketplace. For long-term goals, ensure you establish milestones that enable you to celebrate small “wins,” so you don’t get discouraged.

If one of your SMART goals is to develop your niche, I highly encourage you to add “attend a Nexion Travel Group specialty event” to your tactical plan of action. Our specialty events empower you to zero in and develop a profitable niche, helping you stand out in today’s marketplace. Covering a wide range of profitable topics, these events show you how to fine tune your sale skills in just a few days. 

Are the goals you set for yourself still relevant? Is your action plan delivering desired results? Your end destination may remain quite similar during the long term, but the action plan you set for yourself along the way can change significantly. Make sure the relevance, value and necessity remain high. Now is the time to put your plan in place to make 2020 your best year – and decade – yet!

All travel professionals interested in learning how to succeed as a professional business owner, backed by Nexion Travel Group’s many great benefits, are encouraged to call 800-747-6813 or email sales@nexion.com.

Nexion Travel Group

Nexion® Travel Group is a fully accredited host agency, offering membership to independent travel professionals since 1995. As part of Travel Leaders Group, Nexion Travel Group provides ticketing, operations and fulfillment support to independent travel professionals coupled with best-in-class tools, technology, marketing, education and support. Nexion Travel Group is the complete host agency for multi-agent agencies, corporate agencies, experienced agents and those new to the industry. Travelers also have access to The Travel Collection by Travel Leaders Group, a selection of travel offers and discounts available at no additional cost to holders of select American Express® cards. [Edited May 2024: This specific credit card offer is no longer available.]