Hey Doggers,
If you are reading this before the first of the year, then you are in the minority of folks who are still thinking about business during the holidays.
That means you are the kind of person who makes things happen.
I don’t know how you feel about new years resolutions but I think they are important. Sure, 90 percent of people set them and then give up on them before 30 days have passed, but I’m going to show you how to not to fall into that category.
You must set goals.
No goals = no direction. No one ever wanders aimlessly into a major success.
The biggest mistake most folks make when setting goals is making them too general, for example: “I want to get my hot dog cart business up and running.”
That’s way too vague for anyone to get their head around.
Studies have proven that the human brain can only think about an average of seven concepts at one time. I think mine can hold about 2 on a good day 
.
This means that if you have a complex goal with many different parts, there is absolutely no way to keep them all in the front of your mind – and that’s exactly where they need to be if you are going to have any chance of accomplishing them.
So what can we do to overcome our built in limitations?
Get Chunky!
You need to chunk it down into smaller pieces that you can visualize and attack one by one.
There are actually 27 individual steps that must be accomplished before you can sell your first hot dog. They are listed on page 159 of my book Carts of Cash.
So pick one and set a date to finish it by – and then commit to it!
How about a date?
No, not that kind of date, but thanks for asking.
Setting a calendar date is the second key to goal achievement. No date = no urgency. You must give yourself a deadline.
This is not optional. A goal without a date is just a dream.
So chunk it, date it, attack it, then repeat the process.
As you check the tasks off your list you will find yourself gaining momentum and before you know it you will have sold your first hot dog, or your 10,000th, or built your own hot dog cart, or gotten that second or third or twentieth cart out on the streets.
The feeling of accomplishment when you succeed in your own business is indescribably sweet. It changes you. You will never forget it.
So let’s all get chunky together – tell me your goal chunk (make it really specific) and the date you will finish it by in the comments. I think you will find it a powerful jump start to accomplishing something big in 2011.
YOU CAN DO IT. I BELIEVE IN YOU.
-Steve
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Steve – I am chunky enough haha (Renee) but seriously – our experience has beed that people DO over think it and people DO become overwhelmed. The best thing to do is get OR build you cart and fire it up! Trust me you will sell hot dogs – one time there was a road construction crew in front of our house – and sure enough we sold water, soda, chips and doggies!?!?!?!?! Really!
I’ve Been In the Restaurant Biz for 20 yrs. I’m 38 yrs old now.Yes Bought my first restaurant at 18 yrs of age.. It was Just a couple of years ago when I Read the same thing I just read. Write it down, Set a date, Attack IT!!!! I’ve own 12 Reasaurants in 20 yrs. Now I own One Hot dog cart for the past 1 yr. My Cart Makes me More money, More time with my family, More Happiness than any One person should be allowed. I Quess my Chunk factor is just that. For 2011. Write each Goal Down. Get them out of the Dream section. But I will put a Date to each one of them now… Thanks Steve..
A fellow Dogger in Georgia.
Have my first Hot Dog sold by July 4th 2011!!!
Time to take my own advice.
I used to do a podcast called Hot Dog Cart Radio, but it fell by the wayside.
I will do a new interview and publish it before Jan 31, 2011.
Hey Georgia Tom – you game? I bet we could all benefit from your years of experience and I would love to hear about your conversion to the way of the cart
-Steve
@ Greg – Chunk it down, brother! What is your first step? Good job on the date.
-Steve
Check us out. We have followed all your advice and love cash tracker after one season this year in York, Pa. We are making a living with two locations and not even one hole year behind us we almost hit the round number $ 100,000. We made our goal and more. Everyone get on board this is real. Thank you Steve you made it possible!!!!! Happy New Year to all HOT DOGGERS WE ARE AMONG THE BEST NEW BUSINESSES. Jump on the doggie cart and sell.
New signs and menu boards and a logo before opening in April.
@ Mike
AWESOME!!!
-Steve
Got my commissary agreement last night! I will have my Retail Food Establishment License from the health dept. by Jan. 15th and selling dogs by the 20th. Yeah Baby!
My goal for 2011 is to talk with our local mall about a kiosk inside for the remainder of the cold season here in MD! 45 degree days are still far off so I need a place to sling! I will talk with them and make a decision by Jan 15th, I know who to talk with, and I will call her by Jan 5th to make an appointment. I will take with me all the specs like size, electric requirements, etc. I will have a price that I can pay in mind and be willing to talk her down to that price for rent for the space.
Ya’ll pray for me!
@ Mike, CONGRATS!
It’s always to work CHUNKY! At least for me. Otherwise I become overwhelmed. Organized-Chunky…maybe this needs to be my new mantra.
Yeah – we’re gettin’ CHUNKY!
Good goals people!
-Steve
Hi Steve,
Had a goal of getting my permits,equipment,etc.purchased by May 15, 2010 and started up right on schedule selling that first dog on May 15th ! This past summer was awesome and my goal for 2011 is to keep this ball rolling (we’re in Denver) right into the Spring season…weather permitting…lol
Steve –
Great advice. “You can’t somewhere if you don’t know where it is,” my grandfather said. His advice was to plan your business like you would plan a vacation. Pick your destination (goal) and work backwards. Evaluate route, (strategies) your resources and plan each stop (tactics).
Think of your business plan as a roadmap to your success. There will be many stops (and some detours along the way) as business is never static. (Ever had a blow out or closed road while driving on vacation?) Business environments change with the economy, interest rates, new technologies, fads/trends, etc. Bottom line is that a good business plan is dynamic, ever changing, adjustable and attainable. Looking forward to a terrific 2011! Get chunky!
Well said Wayde!
-Steve
I have found a web site for new steam table pans at a pretty decent deal unless you can provide me with one that may be cheaper! The price I am qouted is with shipping and includes all the pans on your parts list and includes 3 extra pans for the extra sinks that are required here in the Chicagoland area. The price is approx. $120.00 which includes shipping. The site is galasource.com. Thanks, Mike
Thanks Mike!
-Steve
I just wish people would not go into the hot dog biz expecting every day to be jammin!
Also to not think you will make a years salary in a week or a month, and then quit and sell everything off after a month or two.
This is no get rich quick scheme and requires 100% involvement and attention.
It will come and get easier, it just needs time and a sold plan and goals just like you said.
Planning is the key. Adapatability will put you over the top. Plans change with circumstance. be prepared to adapt as the circumstances change. Noone can forsee the future when it is put on paper. Only planning will allow us to adapt as the moment requires
P.S. Sorry i didn’t post this earlier, Steve. I was working on the new cart. Calendar dates make me mad some days.
I have an appointment with my county health inspector to review my EZ Built Plans next week.
My goal is to have the cart completed by Feb 14th (My daughters Bday).
I am only starting out with special events, so I plan to be fully mission capable by this summers fair season.
We’ll be slinging dogs to the NYE revelers down here, so they don’t drive through all the police check points on an empty stomach, Friday night. lol
I’m really hoping to get “re-jump started” in 2011. Wish me luck Steve and Tim. I feel so disconnected.
Renee,
Some things can’t be planned for (Renee had a house fire last year).
We wish you a strong come back in 2011!
-Steve
Renee,
remember the roller coaster has up slopes and down slopes. Your last couple were down. But that means that the next few will be up. And then it will go down again and then up again…but at least you will be out of the RV for a spell. I see good things for you in 2011…just don’t ever quit. It will be fun again..I promise.
My new goal is to get rid of this stupid AVITAR! Anyone know how?
I am in CT. I was gonna wait til spring. I cannot, due to lack of $ coming in- So I have decided that I will have my first dog sold by the end of the 3rd week of January. I am finishing refurbishing a one man stand inside cart that gets to 80 inside if I let it. As long as there are no plows coming by, I will be out selling dogs. I promised myself that I will have the LLC, Health inspection, insurance, permit all done by the end of the first week if possible ( health dept schedule may change that).
I have been buying the non perishables & dry goods for a couple months now, as I can. I need to place that first big supply order for the dogs, kellies & meat for the chili. My signs are done… Time to put up or shut up, as my son says!
I will be between a DMV & a walk in health center on a very busy road, so I expect even Winter sales to be pretty good.
Remember this: Make a plan!! Plan the work!! Work the plan!!
Translation: Read Hotdog Cart News!! Build/buy a Hot Dog Cart!! Be happy selling hotdogs!!
Glen – I think that avatar goes pretty well with your business name, lol!
-Steve
Setting personal goals is important. The most successful people I have met in life are humble–I live in Wichita and I am a Barry Sanders fan Don’t get caught up in other people’s sales figures or comments because most of the time they talk out of their a**. Oh..and we are all doing this because it’s OUR business, so have fun when you go out.
There’s an old Chinese proverb that say,” a thousand mile journey must start with the first step”. Westernize it a little and vow to take a new step everyday and you’ll get there before you know it! Thanks to all of yall and God Bless, Big Momma………
I have always used this method (though I call it the Swiss Cheese Method…big chunk…little holes one at a time) . It does work!
My goals are to have my website finished by Jan 3o (my son’s birthday) and to have my cart approved and in action by the 15th of January. We got approval for a spot by a car/dog wash on a busy street already. The other goals have to do with $$$$. I have a seasonal job with a tax prep company you have likely heard of. I took a $6 per hour pay cut when we were bought by a franchise. I make in the neighborhood of $x,xxx for the season. I am shooting to replace that income (and stop being played with by bosses and owners) by year’s end.
I value my own time and I love the idea of doing something I value, spending my time providing value.
Make it a happy and prosperous New Year everyone!!!
MIKE FROM YORK…
Where are you parked in York? What time. I want to come by and have a dog or two from your cart. I am from York too.
KEEP IN MIND THE NUMBER ONE THING TO DO IS SECURE A LOCATION BECAUSE NOTHING IS AS BAD AS HAVING A CART AND NO WHERE TO SET UP NOT TO GET CHASED BY THE COPS
My goals are: A elementary school has told me that they would like to impliment a hot meal program at there school. They asked me If I would be interested in selling healthy sausages and chicken burgers? I said sure, just get me your nutriential requirements and I would try to put together a menu that would work. They would like me to come at least twice a month maybe more. So my goal is to get going with this school and then approach all the schools in my town of 18,000. Once i have the backing of this school, others might jump on board. I feel it would be very rewarding to provide good quality menu to school kids.
My second goal is to build a second cart, hire someone to run it at a new location I have been pursing . I would like to secure by March 01.2011.
Janet