Here is an example of how I plan to eat an elephant with one of my goals.

Add clients to consulting business.  My goal is to add 5 new clients this year.  Here are the things I will need to do to achieve this goal.

1. Brainstorm a list of at least 30 potential clients.
2. Research potential clients to determine which of my services suit their estimated needs.
3. Contact each of the potential clients to setup meetings to introduce myself and my services.  Continue to contact the potential clients until actually setup meetings.
4. Meet with clients having a draft of what services I can best provide their campaign.  During meeting determine how my draft changes based on what their needs actually are.
5. Before leaving meeting, setup specific date to follow up with them in person.
6. Create a specific proposal drawn up to meet their needs.
7. Meet with them again using proposal to close the deal. 

Here is a timeline for each step:

1. Brainstorming:  1 day
2. Research:  For each client, it takes about 6 – 8 hours of dedicated time.  The most largest block of dedicated time I have is 4 solid hours of time while the children are in preschool and then 3 hours or so total before they wake up or after they go to bed.  So for each client, it will take me about 2 days to do this. 
3. Contact to setup meeting:  10 minutes at a time as I finish research on clients until I can setup meeting.  This is the step that I have the least control over because I am dependent on others to answer or return their calls.
4. 1^st Meeting:  2 hours for each client
5. Specific proposal:  2 hours for each client
6. 2^nd Meeting:  1 ½ hours
7. To meet my goal of 5 new clients this year, I need to add one a month between February and June. 

Specific Timeline:

1. Brainstorming deadline:  February 8
2. Research deadline:  2 new clients per week
3. Contact: 1 new client every 2 weeks by calling each potential client as they are researched 1 time per week.
4. Meeting:  Have 2 meetings a week in March, April, and May
5. Proposal Deadline:  48 hours after meeting with client
6. 2^nd Meeting: 1 – 2 weeks after first meeting

For this goal, my deadlines are a bit nebulous because I still I am dependent on others to achieve the goals.  Still, while I do not know who the specific potential clients with whom I will meet, it seems reasonable that starting in March, I should be able to have 2 meetings per week.

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