This past week, we closed out the third quarter of the year. Now’s the perfect time to reflect—what are your goals for the fourth quarter? Do you set goals at the beginning of the year? And how often do you track your progress? At the end of each quarter, I like to run a report in QuickBooks to check my gross income, largest clients, average fee, and the percentage breakdown of assignment types. It’s a great way to stay in tune with how my business is performing.
When it comes to my annual income goals, however, I also track those metrics daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. My method might be old school (don’t judge my lack of tech!), but I use a post-it note that sits on my desk. The top left of the note shows my gross income for the month, the top right is year-to-date income, and below that, I write down my daily gross from Monday to Friday. This simple habit keeps me laser-focused on my yearly goals.
I didn’t always track income this way. In the past, I’d review my progress at the end of the quarter, only to realize I wasn’t on track. That changed after reading *The 12 Week Year*, which shifted my mindset. The book encourages breaking down yearly goals into more manageable 12-week blocks. My takeaway? Break those yearly goals into quarterly, monthly, and weekly chunks.
For example, if your goal is to earn $200,000 a year, that means $50,000 per quarter, $16,667 a month, or $4,000 a week (based on 50 working weeks). This allows you to track whether you’re on target each week. If my income is lower in a particular week or month, I make it a point to schedule extra jobs to catch up. By tracking income this closely, I find it much easier to achieve my goals.
As we move into the final quarter of the year, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on your goals, evaluate your progress, and make any necessary adjustments to finish strong. Tracking your income and business performance regularly not only helps you stay on target but also motivates you to take action when needed. Whether you’re using a high-tech tool or a simple post-it note like I do, the key is consistency. Stay focused, break down those big goals into manageable steps, and take control of your success one week at a time.
Here’s to a productive and profitable fourth quarter!
If you’re interested in learning more about goal setting and growing your appraisal business, consider joining the Appraisal Referral Network at ReferAppraisals.com. We offer both free and paid membership options, tailored to fit your needs.
Dan Lindeman
Appraisal Referral Network
