American Express has funding and Card solutions to help bring your best ideas to life and steady smiles to your customers’ faces.

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What are your goals for 2011? When you think about making goals, do you cringe and roll your eyes, or do you get excited to plan for the New Year? Regardless of the degree of your enthusiasm, you're bound to fail if you don't know the right way to set goals and follow through.

A goal is:

Clearly defined
Very specific
Complete with an action plan and timeline for completion

To accomplish these goal, you must:

Make sure your goal is achievable
Align your action steps with your capabilities
Eliminate distractions

Likewise, you must believe that your goal is achievable. Businessman, philanthropist and author W. Clement Stone said, “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Write down your goals; by seeing them concretely, you'll see them as achievable.

The 6 Steps to Success

1. Identify your financial goal for this year. Put your financial goal into words. Be clear, specific and concrete.

2. Be realistic. How do you feel about the financial goal you've set for yourself? You'll know if you've hit upon a conceivable figure when you feel an inner \"yes.\"

3. Make a plan of action. Create a strategy. If at any time you experience your mind balking or stalling, that's an indicator that the direction you're going in isn't realistic.

4. Schedule. Take your first step now to create momentum.

5. Evaluate. Measure your activity and success every step along the way.

6. Reward and celebrate your success.

Want more tips on having a successful 2011? Check these stories out:

Eliminate Distractions

Distractions are main reason that goals fail. When we allow distractions to take our time and attention away from our goals, we begin to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. Be fierce about your financial goals this year and spend the appropriate amount of time to achieve them.

Top 10 Business Distracters:

E-mail. If you are business owner, you have a lot of e-mail coming into your inbox every day. However, very little e-mail actually has to be answered immediately.

Co-workers. Decide when and how to deal with co-worker questions and issues.

Surfing the net. The Internet is addictive, so control your surfing.

Day-dreaming.

Unsupportive people. It's important to surround yourself with people who are supportive, like other entrepreneurs who know the value and importance of time. Anyone else is a distraction.

Well-intended advice. Listen if you must, but be aware that advice often reflects the other person’s agenda more than yours.

Interruptions.

Excuses.

Not knowing when to say no.

If you are a business owner, the buck stops with you. Stay focused and remove any unnecessary distractions to ensure that you achieve your financial goals this year.

Happy goal setting!

Dr. Susan L. Reid is a small business expert and business catalyst for entrepreneurial women starting up businesses. She is the award-winning author of “Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Journey to Business Success.” Her website is Alkamae.com.

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Follow your passion and we'll follow your lead, with Cards and funding to help you grow your business and your rewards. Terms Apply.

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A goal is:

Clearly defined
Very specific
Complete with an action plan and timeline for completion

To accomplish these goal, you must:

Make sure your goal is achievable
Align your action steps with your capabilities
Eliminate distractions

The 6 Steps to Success

1. Identify your financial goal for this year. Put your financial goal into words. Be clear, specific and concrete.

2. Be realistic. How do you feel about the financial goal you've set for yourself? You'll know if you've hit upon a conceivable figure when you feel an inner \"yes.\"

3. Make a plan of action. Create a strategy. If at any time you experience your mind balking or stalling, that's an indicator that the direction you're going in isn't realistic.

4. Schedule. Take your first step now to create momentum.

5. Evaluate. Measure your activity and success every step along the way.

6. Reward and celebrate your success.

Want more tips on having a successful 2011? Check these stories out:

Eliminate Distractions

Top 10 Business Distracters:

E-mail. If you are business owner, you have a lot of e-mail coming into your inbox every day. However, very little e-mail actually has to be answered immediately.

Co-workers. Decide when and how to deal with co-worker questions and issues.

Surfing the net. The Internet is addictive, so control your surfing.

Day-dreaming.

Unsupportive people. It's important to surround yourself with people who are supportive, like other entrepreneurs who know the value and importance of time. Anyone else is a distraction.

Well-intended advice. Listen if you must, but be aware that advice often reflects the other person’s agenda more than yours.

Interruptions.

Excuses.

Not knowing when to say no.

If you are a business owner, the buck stops with you. Stay focused and remove any unnecessary distractions to ensure that you achieve your financial goals this year.

Happy goal setting!

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American Express has funding and Card solutions to help bring your best ideas to life and steady smiles to your customers’ faces.

Follow your passion and we'll follow your lead, with Cards and funding to help you grow your business and your rewards. Terms Apply.

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A goal is:

Clearly defined
Very specific
Complete with an action plan and timeline for completion

To accomplish these goal, you must:

Make sure your goal is achievable
Align your action steps with your capabilities
Eliminate distractions

The 6 Steps to Success

1. Identify your financial goal for this year. Put your financial goal into words. Be clear, specific and concrete.

2. Be realistic. How do you feel about the financial goal you've set for yourself? You'll know if you've hit upon a conceivable figure when you feel an inner \"yes.\"

3. Make a plan of action. Create a strategy. If at any time you experience your mind balking or stalling, that's an indicator that the direction you're going in isn't realistic.

4. Schedule. Take your first step now to create momentum.

5. Evaluate. Measure your activity and success every step along the way.

6. Reward and celebrate your success.

Want more tips on having a successful 2011? Check these stories out:

Eliminate Distractions

Top 10 Business Distracters:

E-mail. If you are business owner, you have a lot of e-mail coming into your inbox every day. However, very little e-mail actually has to be answered immediately.

Co-workers. Decide when and how to deal with co-worker questions and issues.

Surfing the net. The Internet is addictive, so control your surfing.

Day-dreaming.

Unsupportive people. It's important to surround yourself with people who are supportive, like other entrepreneurs who know the value and importance of time. Anyone else is a distraction.

Well-intended advice. Listen if you must, but be aware that advice often reflects the other person’s agenda more than yours.

Interruptions.

Excuses.

Not knowing when to say no.

If you are a business owner, the buck stops with you. Stay focused and remove any unnecessary distractions to ensure that you achieve your financial goals this year.

Happy goal setting!

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A goal is:

Clearly defined
Very specific
Complete with an action plan and timeline for completion

To accomplish these goal, you must:

Make sure your goal is achievable
Align your action steps with your capabilities
Eliminate distractions

The 6 Steps to Success

1. Identify your financial goal for this year. Put your financial goal into words. Be clear, specific and concrete.

2. Be realistic. How do you feel about the financial goal you've set for yourself? You'll know if you've hit upon a conceivable figure when you feel an inner \"yes.\"

3. Make a plan of action. Create a strategy. If at any time you experience your mind balking or stalling, that's an indicator that the direction you're going in isn't realistic.

4. Schedule. Take your first step now to create momentum.

5. Evaluate. Measure your activity and success every step along the way.

6. Reward and celebrate your success.

Want more tips on having a successful 2011? Check these stories out:

Eliminate Distractions

Top 10 Business Distracters:

E-mail. If you are business owner, you have a lot of e-mail coming into your inbox every day. However, very little e-mail actually has to be answered immediately.

Co-workers. Decide when and how to deal with co-worker questions and issues.

Surfing the net. The Internet is addictive, so control your surfing.

Day-dreaming.

Unsupportive people. It's important to surround yourself with people who are supportive, like other entrepreneurs who know the value and importance of time. Anyone else is a distraction.

Well-intended advice. Listen if you must, but be aware that advice often reflects the other person’s agenda more than yours.

Interruptions.

Excuses.

Not knowing when to say no.

If you are a business owner, the buck stops with you. Stay focused and remove any unnecessary distractions to ensure that you achieve your financial goals this year.

Happy goal setting!