---
title: It's that time of year!
description: Goal setting
image: https://www.rickroberge.com/hubfs/October.jpg
---

# [SELLING IN THE 21ST CENTURY](https://www.rickroberge.com/)

[![header-sm-linkedin-blue](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-465400397-png/images/header-sm-linkedin-blue.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickroberge) [![header-sm-twitter-blue](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-465371692-png/images/header-sm-twitter-blue.png)](https://twitter.com/RainMakerMaker) [![header-sm-google-plus-red](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-462412948-png/images/header-sm-google-plus-red.png)](https://plus.google.com/+RickRoberge/posts) [![header-sm-rss](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/file-480298330-png/images/header-sm-rss.png)](https://www.rickroberge.com/rss.xml)

# [Science for Sales Rock Stars](https://www.rickroberge.com/)

## [It's that time of year!](https://www.rickroberge.com/its-that-time-of-year)

![](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RR.jpg?width=35&height=35&name=RR.jpg)

 By [Rick Roberge](https://www.rickroberge.com/author/rick-roberge)   Oct 29, 2017, 8:26:56 PM

![October.jpg](https://www.rickroberge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/October.jpg?width=172&name=October.jpg)Last weekend in October. Two months until the end of the year. Two months until 2018. What did you do this weekend?

- Wonder how you were going to make your October quota in two days?
- Wonder how you were going to bail out 2017 in the next two months?
- Wonder whether you were thinking big enough or safe enough for 2018?

May I share a couple of recent stories?

Most recently, I received **[this update](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6330366548192034816)**. Here's what you need to know. They sent this email on August 11.

> *For our call on Monday, Carole, you had asked me to tell you what some of my goals were.*
> 
> - *I want to buy a condo within the next 36 months - or sooner. The average price for a 2BR is around $700,000 in the area I'm looking at. I want to save at least 10% of my downpayment. I will need to be promoted immediately if not ahead of schedule, and need to save up 70,000 in 3 years. This will mean I'll need to save at least $23,300 each year.*
> - *I want to pay off all of my student loans. Unfortunately had some stuff happen immediately after college and one of them is in collections, and will stay that way until I pay it off in full. That one alone is $16,000. I will need to pay that off within the next year so that I can have great credit for the 2 years leading up to the time I'd be applying for a mortgage so that I can get a decent interest rate*
> - *I want to do all of this and afford a trip **[here](http://www.kakslauttanen.fi/en/)***
> - *I want to afford Red Sox season tickets in the club section*
> - *I want to afford to send $300 a month to my grandma. She's doing okay now, but I want her to be able to go to painting classes and do water aerobics at a nice place.*
> 
> *My plan to get there is to work as hard as I can, be promoted and make money to be able to afford this.*
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> *Okay, I think that's all I have for now.* 
> 
>  
> 
> *Looking forward to our call on Monday*

We helped them refine the goals and develop the plan, but if you read their update, they're well on their way.

---

**[Remember this guy](https://www.rickroberge.com/case-study-sales-probation-to-promotion)**? He was hoping that we coud help him save his job and 4 months later, he got promoted and was on his way to President's Club. Go figure!

---

On Oct 10th, a new client wannabe sent this email in answer to me asking, "What do you anticipate the next three months will be like? What will we get done? What are the three factors that made you decide to proceed?

 

> *I anticipate the next three months will challenge me to reconstruct my approach to sales, help me revisit the basics and to shore up bad habits I've developed.  I believe it will also be a chance to regain awareness of myself by way of your and Carole's perspectives, and to harness that to my advantage.* 
> 
>  
> 
> *If I had to list just three factors making me want to proceed, they're:*
> 
>  
> 
> *1. My direct experience speaking with you both, and the discomfort I felt at the way you were able to pick apart me and therein how I sell (and we haven't even really gotten started).* 
> 
>  
> 
> *2. What I've read of your past in sales and as a lifelong student of sales.* 
> 
>  
> 
> *3. What I've read and heard while checking references/digging into your and Carole's published content.*

 

Today he sent us his action plan which doesn't include any of the fluffy language from 10/10. These are the goals that he sent us last week. We've refined them, but now he's got a real plan.

 

**Goals**

1. Earn $200,000 in 2018.
2. Spend 25% more time with friends and family.
3. Reduce weight to 160 lbs by June 1st, 2018 through a combination of diet & exercise.

**How to Achieve Goals**

- Sell $2M @ 6% commission rate; $4M at 3% commission rate (through sales team).
- Block off additional 5 hours/week to spend with friends & family (total of 25 hours).
- Exercise 4x/week for at least 1 hour each session.

The new you starts with you deciding that you want to change for the better. Sometimes it's a long list. Sometimes it's just one goal. If it's important, you can get it done.

It starts with you **[setting up a conversation](https://rickroberge.youcanbook.me/)**.

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

### Want updates as they're published?

#### Enter your email:

<https://plus.google.com/116082120720832878924/posts?rel=author>BTW, do you have an idea or question that would make a good article? Would you like to write or co-author it? Either way, **[send me an email](mailto:therainmakermaker@gmail.com?Subject=Blog%20article/author%20idea)**.

**[Rick Roberge](https://plus.google.com/116082120720832878924/posts?rel=author)**

## About this blog

*This blog is for, by and about  
Sales Rock Stars,  
RainMakers,  
Entrepreneurs  
(and/or those that strive to be)*

## [Read My Articles on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/rickroberge)

## [About Rick](https://www.rickroberge.com/contact-me)

**[The Original](http://therainmakermaker.com/)[RainMaker Maker Blog (pre-2012)](http://therainmakermaker.com/)**  
[**Remote Bookkeeping**](http://www.slcbookkeeping.com/blog/bid/116710/remote-bookkeeping-made-easy)[**Made Easy**](http://www.slcbookkeeping.com/blog/bid/116710/remote-bookkeeping-made-easy)  
[**Awesome Website Design**](https://www.inbounddesignstudio.com/contact/)

Search RainMakers & Sales Rock Stars

Search

### Subscribe to Email Updates

### Posts by Month

- [November 2025 (19)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/11)
- [October 2025 (18)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/10)
- [June 2025 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/06)
- [May 2025 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/05)
- [April 2025 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2025/04)
- [July 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/07)
- [June 2023 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/06)
- [May 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/05)
- [March 2023 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/03)
- [January 2023 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2023/01)
- [November 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/11)
- [May 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/05)
- [April 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/04)
- [March 2022 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/03)
- [February 2022 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/02)
- [January 2022 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2022/01)
- [December 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/12)
- [November 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/11)
- [October 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/10)
- [September 2021 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/09)
- [August 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/08)
- [July 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/07)
- [June 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/06)
- [May 2021 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/05)
- [April 2021 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/04)
- [March 2021 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/03)
- [January 2021 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2021/01)
- [December 2020 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/12)
- [November 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/11)
- [October 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/10)
- [September 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/09)
- [August 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/08)
- [July 2020 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/07)
- [June 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/06)
- [May 2020 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/05)
- [April 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/04)
- [March 2020 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/03)
- [February 2020 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/02)
- [January 2020 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2020/01)
- [December 2019 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/12)
- [November 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/11)
- [October 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/10)
- [September 2019 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/09)
- [August 2019 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/08)
- [July 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/07)
- [June 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/06)
- [April 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/04)
- [March 2019 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/03)
- [February 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/02)
- [January 2019 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2019/01)
- [December 2018 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/12)
- [November 2018 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/11)
- [October 2018 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/10)
- [September 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/09)
- [August 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/08)
- [July 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/07)
- [June 2018 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/06)
- [May 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/05)
- [April 2018 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/04)
- [March 2018 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/03)
- [February 2018 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/02)
- [January 2018 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2018/01)
- [December 2017 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/12)
- [November 2017 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/11)
- [October 2017 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/10)
- [September 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/09)
- [August 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/08)
- [July 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/07)
- [June 2017 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/06)
- [May 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/05)
- [April 2017 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/04)
- [March 2017 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/03)
- [February 2017 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/02)
- [January 2017 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2017/01)
- [December 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/12)
- [November 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/11)
- [October 2016 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/10)
- [September 2016 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/09)
- [August 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/08)
- [July 2016 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/07)
- [June 2016 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/06)
- [May 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/05)
- [April 2016 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/04)
- [March 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/03)
- [February 2016 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/02)
- [January 2016 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2016/01)
- [December 2015 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/12)
- [November 2015 (2)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/11)
- [October 2015 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/10)
- [September 2015 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/09)
- [August 2015 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/08)
- [July 2015 (3)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/07)
- [June 2015 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/06)
- [May 2015 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/05)
- [April 2015 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/04)
- [March 2015 (1)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/03)
- [February 2015 (4)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/02)
- [January 2015 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2015/01)
- [December 2014 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/12)
- [November 2014 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/11)
- [October 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/10)
- [September 2014 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/09)
- [August 2014 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/08)
- [July 2014 (7)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/07)
- [June 2014 (11)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/06)
- [May 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/05)
- [April 2014 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/04)
- [March 2014 (8)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/03)
- [February 2014 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/02)
- [January 2014 (14)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2014/01)
- [December 2013 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/12)
- [November 2013 (5)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/11)
- [October 2013 (9)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/10)
- [September 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/09)
- [August 2013 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/08)
- [July 2013 (11)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/07)
- [June 2013 (12)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/06)
- [May 2013 (12)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/05)
- [April 2013 (13)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/04)
- [March 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/03)
- [February 2013 (10)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/02)
- [January 2013 (6)](https://www.rickroberge.com/archive/2013/01)

see all

© 2026 Rick Roberge

Website designed by [Inbound Design Partners](https://www.inbounddesignpartners.com/)