Let's be honest: when someone asks what you're working toward with your photo booth business, it's easy to say more bookings or I just want it to do well. Those are wishes, not goals, and wishes rarely lead to the kind of business you really want.
Clarity leads to power
When you have a precise, written goal, decisions become much simpler. Should you spend money on Instagram ads? Buy a second booth? Take that low-budget corporate event? With a clear goal, you can look at each opportunity and quickly decide whether it moves you closer or not.
Two types of goals, and which one actually works
A negative goal sounds like: I don't want to work every weekend anymore. This kind of goal is born from frustration, and while it can get you moving, it doesn't tell you what you're moving towards.
A positive goal sounds like: by December, I want three booths operating at events most weekends, each with a trained attendant, generating a specific monthly net profit. That kind of goal gives you something concrete to build. You can measure it, reverse-engineer it, and share it with your team.
Think bigger than yourself
The most powerful goals aren't only about your income; they're also about impact. Maybe you want to be the go-to photo booth company for charity galas in your city, or you'd love to provide part-time work for five local people. Goals like these pull you forward when things get hard because they're about more than just money.
Start with the end in mind
Close your eyes and picture your business three years from now at its best. How many booths are you running? How many events per month? Who's on your team? What do people in your area say about your brand? Write that picture down in detail, then work backwards to figure out what needs to happen this year, this quarter, and this month.
Share your goal
Goals get stronger when they're shared. Tell your staff, your business partner, or even a trusted client what you're building. When people around you know your direction, they can encourage you, hold you accountable, and sometimes even send you opportunities you might have missed.
Key takeaways
- Write your business goal in one clear sentence, including a number, a timeframe, and a measure of success.
- Make sure it's a positive goal, what you want, not just what you're trying to avoid.
- Put your goal somewhere you'll see it daily, by your desk, in your planner, or on your phone lock screen.
- Share your goal with at least one person who will lovingly hold you to it.