Setting your Goals for 2010 as an Entrepreneur

BY Ben Lang Dec. 31, 2009 39 Comments

Setting objectives as an entrepreneur is a very important skill. Last year, I set a few goals for myself for 2009:

Expand my eBay business
Create a blog dedicated to entrepreneur stories for teenagers (teenbizstarter)
Reach below 100,000 in Alexa Ranking.

End result:

I slowed down my eBay business, eventually putting it on hold.
I did not create the blog dedicated to teen entrepreneur stories because I didn’t have the bandwidth
I converted my website to a blog that now has a 95,000 Alexa, hundreds of comments, and a strong community.

So how did I fair?
Surprisingly, I only achieved one out of the three of the goals that I had set up. Don’t misunderstand: I don’t feel badly about it. On the contrary, I learned a very important lesson from all of this. Life changes. It’s important for an entrepreneur to set up goals, but in a dynamic world such as ours, we always have to be open to opportunity and change. I saw that with the recession, I was not going to do well on eBay. I also realized that I wouldn’t have time to work on more than one blog at a time because they’re more time consuming than I thought; instead of spending a little time in a lot of different places, I concentrated my efforts on one blog, mine, www.ben-lang.com. Lesson learned? A smart entrepreneur sets goals but at the same time stays flexible so that when new opportunities arise, he or she can snatch them.

Happy New Year!

Entrepreneurship

entrepreneur, goals

http://JawaadAhmadKhan.com Jawaad Ahmad Khan

Definitely important to set goals, and know when to be flexible with them.

I think that even though you may not have attained all 3 goals, you were still successful in developing this blog. I mean, Alexa Rating 90,000 is pretty darn good. Ebay’s dying out as a viable business venture anyway.

Glad you took the path you did (otherwise where would I get all this nice advice from a fellow young entrepreneur).
.-= Jawaad Ahmad Khan´s last blog post: Nov & Dec 09 Articles =-.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

I’m glad you agree. Thanks so much! I’m very happy where I came out also. eBay is no longer what it used to be, and I’d rather “blog” and continue to receive praise from amazing people such as you

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tony ramirez

Yeah, Have my plans and goals mapped out. Looking forward to this upcoming year

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Great, I hope “Stay Strong Dream Big” is successful next year. Good luck!

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http://profitsrgood.com Roland Millward

Hi Ben

Goals are good to have and have to be flexible. I would like to say though that with the recession your Ebay business is more than likely to be better rather than worse as people need to raise money from selling unwanted items or just to sell out of desperation for money.

You may want to rethink starting up again.

Roland
.-= Roland Millward´s last blog post: How to Drive Traffic to Your Links =-.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Hi Roland,
Yes that’s true about eBay, but more specifically people wanted to sell on their own and avoid my commission… Blogging is more interesting anyways!
Happy new years

http://shirleyszone.com Shirley

Great lessons, Ben. Sometimes it’s good to give up some goals and focus on some realistic ones .
.-= Shirley´s last blog post: Discussion: How Has Shirley’s Zone Impacted You In 2009? =-.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Thanks! It’s still important to try to accomplish your plans, but reality sometimes prevents that

http://internetjobscams.blogspot.com chandan

Its good to make plan for the new year. Well I have no big plan for my blog, but my aim is to bring my blog top ten on google for keyword “work at home”.
.-= chandan´s last blog post: My favorite website promotion firm =-.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

It is Well “work at home” top ten search, is a big goal that would be very impressive if you achieved that. Good luck!

http://www.directsaleswebmarketing.com/send-me-your-best-articles-ill-send-you-my-best-traffic/ Dennis Edell

Good luck with the goals and Happy New Year my friend!
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog post: PLEASE COMMENT – Have You EVER Used The Added Feature Of My Subscribe To Comments Plugin?? =-.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Thanks Dennis! Happy belated New Year to you too!

Aminul Islam Sajib

I’ve already set my goals in 2010. The top of them is practicing English more and more to have a brilliant English writing skill.

Also, taking my blog to the next level.
.-= Aminul Islam Sajib´s last blog post: Happy New Year 2010! The New Year Plans =-.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

That’s great to hear! I hope you succeed in improving your blog and learning English…

http://onelifenofear.com/Boot_Camp.html Entreprneurs Blog

Top job Ben. Best of luck with your goals in 2010.
.-= Entreprneurs Blog´s last blog post: Step By Step Guide To Starting an Online Business =-.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Thanks! Best of luck to you too!

http://twitter.com/aainsberg Alex Ainsberg

So, what are your goals for the upcoming year?

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Hey Alex, I haven’t made any specific goals yet but I’m going to concentrate on school, blogging and enjoying life

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Ruben | OurBlogLog

You usually never end up accomplishing every goal on the list. =/ Great job on the website !

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

That’s true! Thanks so much!

http://www.samanthagardner.com/time-management-tip-1-why-setting-goals-and-objectives-and-then-putting-a-plan-in-place-for-your-life-is-so-important/ Samantha Gardner

Hi Ben,

Glad to see you understand the importance of setting goals and objectives and moving forward but being flexible enough to see where you need and want to be spending your time.

Take your unlimited opportunities and run with them.

Wishing you an Outstanding 2010.

Samantha

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Hi Samantha,
Thanks, I’m sure that you must understand that very well. I would like to wish you a successful 2010 also

http://www.teenbootcamps.org kids boot camp

I think your nearly accomplishing your goals. You’ve got good information on your blogs and thorough update of your site.

What’s next? You are someone who could be awarded of being a young entrepreneur.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Thanks! That’s what I’m trying to do. Ha, maybe I well get awarded one day

http://whatawebsite.org/ Will

Hey Ben,

Just to wish you continued success in 2010, it’s a great start you’ve made to your blog here and I’m sure it’ll continue to climb the Alexa Rankings( unless of course your goals change ).

Great to hear that you’re flexible with your goals – it’s an excellent attitude I think.

Best wishes

Will
.-= Will´s last blog post: Brianwave Alexa Ranking Contest Update =-.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Hey Will,

Thank you so much, I also want to wish you success. I’m sure that your site will become more and more popular this year.
Best regards.

Jared P Little

Ben, best of luck in 2010. 1st time visitor but will be coming back I love to here about kids are starting business.
.-= Jared P Little´s last blog post: Brian Tracy Tuesday – Strategic Thinking =-.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Thanks, I hope to see you back here. Good luck in 2010 also!

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Car Transporters | Igor

The whole point is to set up a few high standard goals and by the end if you accomplish just one, it will be worth it.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Agreed, thats exactly what happened to me over 2009

http://www.engineer-a-business.com/index.php/ourblog Kalen Smith

Very good post Ben. Things don’t always go as we planned and that is not something we have any control of. All we can do is react and change our plans in response, which is exactly what you did when you chose to focus on one blog and created a new strategy by converting your website to a blog. That’s shooting par there and we can all learn from that.

http://ben-lang.com Ben Lang

Thanks, yeah my plans have continually changed since then, just got to set my goals straight

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Setting your Goals for 2010 as an Entrepreneur

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