What’s neat about this is that you determine what goes into your performance appraisal—no one else is involved!

First, will your life be different when you achieve your five-year objectives, one-year objectives, and the things you have committed to accomplish in the next ninety days? Consider your objectives from these three perspectives:

Financial

Mental

Personal

Second, what has to be present for you to be satisfied with your consulting practice? What are those things that must happen for you to know that you are satisfied with your business? This is highly personal. Some consultants strive to grow a million-dollar consulting business—others do just enough consulting to have a comfortable lifestyle. Let’s design how you’d like your life to work as a result of your being a consultant.

What are your success criteria? What has to be present for you to know your consulting practice is a success? List your success criteria below:

1. ____________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________
7. ____________________________________________
8. ____________________________________________
9. ____________________________________________

Test these criteria. For each one list what’s important to you.

1. ____________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________

Sample Success Criteria
To help you with this process here’s an example:
What are your success criteria? What has to be present for you to know your consulting practice is a success? List your success criteria below:

1. A net income before taxes of $150,000 per year
2. A wide variety of challenging assignments
3. Working with top executives in the companies I serve
4. The ability to make a difference in the results of the companies I work with
5. National prominence in the field of consulting
6. Travel to the major cities of the world

Test these criteria. For each one listed, what’s important to you.

1. Net income of $150K means a great lifestyle—homes in Florida and the Northeast. The ability to help out our children when they need it and to have fantastic vacations for my wife and myself.

2. Challenging assignments mean that I stay abreast of the latest that’s happening in business and that I develop my mental capacities to the utmost. It also means I’ll take prudent risks. Based on my background I know I can do things I haven’t done before. This means personal growth and the satisfaction of accomplishment.

3. Working with top executives: Although I’m an “outsider” now, this is the group I came from. I enjoy associating with those who used to be my peers. As a consultant serving high levels, I’m still part of the “club.”

4. Making a difference means I add value to the companies I serve, which gives me a strong sense of satisfaction.

5. National prominence: I like to be recognized for the good things I do. I am driven to achieve, and being known at a national level is recognition of that achievement.

6. I like the excitement of travel and going to new places, seeing new people, and experiencing new things.