SMART GOALS
The path to success.
No more setbacks. Use this technique to help clarify your goals, break them down into actionable steps, and make them smarter. More specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.
92% of people that set New Year's goals never actually achieve them?
Why? Often, what hinders us from conquering our goals is how we formulate them.
How many times have you said, “I’m going to get that college degree,” “Save $5,000,” “Lose 30lbs,” or “Pay off my debt,” but still couldn’t manage to achieve them?
I, too, have a hard time reaching my goals. In fact, there have been countless times in my life I’ve aspired to become an entrepreneur. I would create goals and brainstorm ideas, but eventually, I’d feel overwhelmed and get stuck in the ideation phase, making no significant progress toward my dreams.
No more! Now, I’m taking consistent action towards that goal, and I want to share with you the technique I'm using to help me stay focused and succeed. It’s called SMART goals.
SMART GOALS: WHAT ARE THEY?
It’s a technique that takes your big, broad and expansive goals into Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound goals. In other words, it makes your goals clear, concrete and actionable.
When we have vague goals, we essentially drive in the darkness. We know the general direction we need to go, but we can’t see what lies between us and our destination. When we try to hold ourselves accountable for large, complex and challenging goals, we set ourselves up for failure and unnecessary stress and anxiety. Whenever I set a goal like “ Launch a business” and leave it at that, I’m leaving room for procrastination, distractions and excuses.
Look, no one is perfect, and I, too, struggle with staying committed to a goal. When you use SMART goals, it helps focus your efforts and provide a clear roadmap. You're able to break down the big picture into small actionable steps that are much more manageable. Now, let’s delve into each component of a SMART goal:
SPECIFIC
The first step in converting your goals into a SMART goal is to be as specific as possible. Ask yourself, “Is this too vague?” For example, if your goal is to launch a business, unfortunately, that’s too vague. There’s too much left to the imagination, and to stay committed you need to be crystal clear. Add details about what kind of business you want to launch.
Is it event planning? If so, what kind of events? Kids birthdays? Weddings? Company retreats? The more you narrow down the specific details of what you want to accomplish, the better you can stay focused and committed.
2. MEASURABLE
The next step is to add metrics or a measurable component to your goal to help keep track of your progress.
Launching a business, regardless of its size, is a complicated process. There are so many components to it that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s true for any large goal. So, do yourself a favor and determine how you’ll track your progress.
Using our example, you could set a goal to work on your event planning business for 1 hour each day. This creates accountability and keeps your progress moving forward. Remember, everyone is human, and if certain goals seem unrealistic due to life events or changes, there’s always flexibility to adjust your progress goals.
3. ACHIEVABLE
The "A" in SMART stands for "Achievable." This part of the SMART model helps keep things in perspective by emphasizing realism.
You don't want to set some wild and crazy goal that's impossible to reach, right? Dreaming big is cool, but you also need to keep your feet on the ground. Ask yourself, “"Can I actually achieve this goal with the resources, skills, and time I have?"
Don’t set yourself up for failure. Assess if your goal and expectations are wildly beyond your current resources. However, don’t sell yourself short either. This step is about setting yourself up for success, not frustration. Aim high, but keep it within reach. Set goals that make you stretch a bit while still maintaining that glimmer of possibility.
If I set a goal to work on my event planning business and have no experience in that realm, I need to be realistic about my current skills and identify what I need to bridge the gap. This is where you can explore learning opportunities, such as volunteering to organize a friend's birthday party.
This step is about setting yourself up for growth, not stagnation.
4. RELEVANT
Now, let's dive into the "R" in SMART goals, which stands for “Relevant.” This part is all about making sure your goal actually matters and aligns with what you're trying to achieve.
You don't want to set a random goal that has nothing to do with your bigger picture, right? Instead, it should be like a piece of the puzzle that fits perfectly into the grand scheme of things. Ask yourself, "Does this goal make sense? Does it contribute to my overall objectives?" If the answer is a resounding "Yes!", then you're on the right track.
Keep it relevant, and watch your goals fall into place like a jigsaw puzzle.
5. TIME-BOUND
Lastly, let's talk about the time-bound aspect of a SMART goal. Basically, it's all about setting a clear deadline for your goal. You don't want it to be a never-ending pursuit.
Give yourself a specific timeframe to work within. For example, you could say, “"I'm going to launch my event planning business by the end of this summer!"
Now you've got a target to aim for and a sense of urgency. Time-bound goals keep you on your toes and prevent you from procrastinating. So, pick a date, stick to it, and go crush that goal!
RECAP
To recap, SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. These guidelines help you set clear, well-defined goals that you can work towards and achieve. By being specific, you provide clarity to your goal. Making it measurable allows you to track progress and stay motivated. Ensuring it's achievable keeps you realistic and prevents overwhelm. The relevant aspect ensures your goal aligns with your overall objectives. Finally, being time-bound adds a sense of urgency and keeps you focused.
SMART goals are crucial because they provide structure, direction, and accountability, helping you turn your dreams into actionable steps and eventually, sweet, sweet success.
FREE GUIDE
〰️
FREE GUIDE 〰️
Now that you know more about SMART goals, I'm excited to share with you my free workbook for converting your goals into SMART goals.
Whether you're aiming to conquer a personal milestone, boost your professional growth, or improve your overall well-being, this workbook is designed to guide you every step of the way.
It's packed with user-friendly exercises and insightful prompts that will help you clarify your goals, break them down into actionable steps, and make them smarter, more specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. So, grab your copy today and let's embark on this transformative journey together!
