Smart Goals

I encourage you to pick up a pen and a piece of paper and jot down the goals you want to reach.

Look at each goal and evaluate it. Make any changes necessary to ensure it meets the criteria for SMART goals.

Setting SMART goals will help you to be successful in both your personal and business life.

SMART goals
Specific – Measurable – Attainable – Realistic – Timely

Specific
A specific goal will explain in detail Who, What, Where, Why and How the goal will be obtained.

Why do you want to achieve this goal? (What’s the benefit?)

Who needs to be involved for the success of your goal?

Where do these steps need to happen?

How will you obtain the goal? List all the action steps necessary to obtain.

What does the finished goal look like?

Your smart goal should clearly define the final outcome. The more clearly you identify the goal, the easier it will be to focus on the action steps required to achieve it.

Write your goal down in clear simple language. A 6th grader should be able to read it, understand it and be able to tell you when you’ve accomplished it.

Measurable

If you can’t measure it, how will you know how close you are to obtaining your goal?

Set target dates for achieving each step of your goal. Measuring your progress helps you to stay on track. It helps you to look back and see how far you have come.

A measurable goal will answer the questions When? How Much? How Many? Etc.

Attainable

You need to set goals that you believe you can accomplish. They can’t be too simple or difficult. Your subconscious needs to believe that it is possible. Any goal is reachable if you can clearly visualize it.

Prioritize each action step needed to achieve your goal. Plan for obstacles and have solutions in mind.

Each time you succeed at an action step you are bringing yourself closer to the accomplishment of your major goal.

Along the journey you will develop the attitude, abilities, and skills necessary at making your dream a reality.

Realistic

Realistic does not mean simple. It means “Doable”.

A realistic goal will require some effort on your part. You need to be willing to commit to the time it will take to accomplish. Such as learning a new skill or acquiring certain knowledge.

If it’s too easy your subconscious thinks you aren’t capable of much.

If it’s too hard you’re setting the stage for failure.

For example an unrealistic goal would be “I’m going to be a millionaire next month” if you’re currently earning $30,000/year and struggling.

Another unrealistic goal would be “I’m going to lose 30 pounds in a month.” For almost everyone this is an impossible goal (except for maybe the contestants on “The Biggest Loser”)

Timely

Your goal needs to have a deadline. This gives your goal gives you a clear target to work towards. When will it be accomplished? How much time is involved?

If it’s too far in the future – your subconscious wont work towards it because it thinks I’ve got plenty of time. And “Someday” doesn’t exist.

If there’s not enough time, then the subconscious simply wont believe it’s possible.

A Smart Goal:
I will save $1200. (by 12 months from now) for my vacation next year. I will save $100./month. I will do this by skipping my morning Chocolate Mocha and sweet roll each morning – Monday thru Friday on my way to work. Instead I will bring coffee from home and put a packet of hot chocolate in it. In place of the sweet roll I will have a bagel.

The above goal is specific, it states the benefit, it states when, how why and where. Its measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. It’s doable. All the bases are covered.

[tags]Smart Goals, Realistic Goals, Goals, Goal Setting[/tags]