In the goal-setting process, it is often suggested to formulate goals based on the SMART rule. This means goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. Entrepreneurs know that every goal needs a target date to have a deadline to focus on and something to work toward. The time-bound aspect of the SMART goal criteria helps to prevent everyday tasks from taking priority over your long-term goals.
Chris Jenkins, UK-born eCommerce expert and founder of Giovvani, knows exactly what it means to set time-bound goals. He has creatively coined the term “dreamlines,” which are essentially timelines for your dreams.
Setting Dreamlines
It is a fact that when we put a deadline to our goals, it creates an all-important sense of urgency and necessary focus while helping to set priorities and motivating us to act.
Chris encourages entrepreneurs to “write down what your dream life looks like, without limits. That could be a beach house, supercars – you name it, whatever you want. Then put a timescale on it, for example, 5 years or 10 years from now. Then work out how much you need to make each year to achieve this on the timescale you have set, and you’ll be surprised that it’s not as crazy as you first thought.”
If you have a goal of achieving a certain lifestyle, then setting a “dreamline” coupled with the right level of commitment and focus can help speed up the process. “For example, let’s say you want a 2018 Lamborghini Huracan, which costs about $250,000, and a beach house worth $2,000,000. On a 10-year timescale, you need to make $225,000 per year. This might sound like a lot, but it calculates to just $625 per day. Potentially all you have to do is sell 7 x $100 eBooks per day, and you’ll have your dream in 10 years, or sell 14 per day, and you’ll have it in 5 years.”
Chris uses the example to point out the need to breakdown goals into achievable, time-bound objectives that can lead to overall growth. Through this method, you’re essentially reverse engineering your dream.
“Dreamlines” Improve Focus
A dreamline can also help you to focus on the end goal. Chris suggests, for example, that if an entrepreneur is committed to building a business or what he describes as a “slow-burning project,” they can set a timeline of 6-12 months while they continue to work at their regular 9-5 job until they get the business or project completely off the ground. This gives them the ability to build something that has uncapped earning potential in the long run.
Giovvani, from “Dreamline” to Reality
Chris’ brand Giovvani is one of his greatest accomplishments resulting from setting “dreamlines.”
“It has taken pretty much one year to get the product to this point in terms of design and quality.”
Despite his dropshipping success, Chris knew he wanted to build a sustainable brand representing his experience as an entrepreneur. “I decided it was important that I focus on building something long-term, which is how Giovvani was born.”
The entrepreneur spent the pandemic lockdown of 2020 designing the shoes and developing relationships with suppliers to meet the high-quality standards he set for the product.
The shoes are all handmade and represent minimalistic luxury and comfort. Currently, they are distributed via the company’s website with limited capacity to ensure quality and cost-efficiency.
Entrepreneurs interested in the concept of “dreamlines” can learn a lot from Chris and his experiences over the years.
