I am surprised, as I sit down to write this, that we are already entering the final quarter of this calendar year! I often share the Gretchen Rubin quote with people who have small children, “The days are long, but the years are short,” and I am finding that it is becoming more true today than I ever felt it was! Let’s tiptoe into the conversation about goal planning for 2025, starting with my encouragement of you to choose at least one conference to attend and start saving to go NOW. Attending these training conferences is worth the investment and will pay for itself as soon as you return to your shop and begin to implement the things you learned. If you can bring someone along with you, it’s even better because you can split up and attend more classes, then share the notes and learning with each other and then your team at the shop. The most common objection I hear is that it’s too expensive. To that, I ask you, can you afford not to?
Here are two recommendations to debunk that myth that you are believing. First, go back and read my previous articles. I bet you’ll find at least one way to bring in more money to pay for the trip! Maybe more than one. Second, plan for it! Put it in the budget. Make it non-negotiable. As we all know, a goal that isn’t written down is just a dream, so let’s make this a SMARTER goal! (See my March 2024 Callahan: Get Smart(er)
Here is your goal statement:
I will attend the 2025 Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference and bring (designate a person) with me. I am budgeting $7,800 to cover 2 registrations, 4 nights in the conference hotel, 2 air fares, and some extra for food and a little fun. I will ensure that I meet Kathleen Callahan, (other industry expert), and (other industry expert) while I am there. Before I head to the conference location, I will look at and strategize with my companion which classes each of us will attend so we maximize the investment I am making.
I suggest getting a poster board, writing this in the middle, and then signing it. Make it into a contract with yourself! Want to get fancy? Print out a picture of the conference logo, pictures of the people you want to meet at that conference, add them to this and hang it in a place where you will see it every single day!
Then, to actually achieve this goal, set out to save $150 per week beginning this week. That’s 1 billed labor hour a week. If it is more than 1 hour, please email me. Let’s have a conversation about how to fix that. If you’re not a great saver, open a separate account, automatically transfer that $150 weekly, and mark your progress on your goal poster.
I believe that is a minor investment in yourself and your future that will pay you great dividends on the other side.
This goal meets almost all of the SMARTER criteria. It is:
Specific – R+W Management Conference
Measurable – Save $7,800, $150 per week
Achievable – I can add one more billed hour a week to shop production
Relevant – Our industry is advancing at record speeds, and I need to train to stay current.
Time-bound – Q4 2025
Evaluate: Marked on your calendar weekly and reevaluate monthly to be sure you are on pace.
Revise: The amount needed may fluctuate depending on location, flights, etc. Make sure you keep an eye on the total needed and revise your weekly goal as necessary.
