How to out SMART goals
“The great danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.” –Michelangelo
Do you feel like this year is flying by and you ain’t going nowhere? Bending over backwards and getting nothing done. Perhaps you see a little progress here and there when you look back at your 5-year-wrinkle-free-younger-self. Or maybe you have a hard time seeing how you can realize all those fancy dreams FOR REAL and ASAP, please.
So many of us spend most of our lives packing our bags from one job to another, bending over backward to checkmark our never-ending-to-do list while never finishing any of it. To out SMART, your goals means you are crystal clear about what you want to achieve, you focus your energy like a laser beam, use your time and resources wisely, and thus skyrocket the odds of accomplishing all you want to complete.
In this article, I would like to share some tips on how to out SMART goals. First, what SMART goals are and how you can use them to slay your goals.
What the heck is SMART?
SMART is an acronym that has been used since the early eighties to guide people with the setting of objectives. It was first-known in the article “There is a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives” by George T. Doran in the November 1981 issue of Management Review. The article discussed the importance of objectives and the difficulty in setting them. SMART can be used as a guide for project management, performance management, and personal development.
According to SMART, every objective should be:
S = Specific, A.K.A. make your goals as specific as possible.
M = Measurable, in other words, you have to identify some indicators of your progress, some evidence that you are making headway.
A = Attainable means you make sure your goal can be accomplished within a certain amount of time.
R = Relevant, meaning you make sure your goals align with your core values and long-term objectives.
T = Time-related means you set a realistic, ambitious end-date so that you can prioritize your tasks and kick yourself a kick in the b*tt whenever needed.
How to use SMART
- Specific
Be very specific about your goals. When you are not very clear about your goals, it is much easier to be distracted and fall off the wagon. I encourage you to write your goals down and answer the “W” questions:
– What is it that you want to accomplish?
– Why is this goal so important to you?
– Who is going to help you make it happen?
– Where is it going to happen?
– When is it going to happen?
- Measurable
Ensure your goals are measurable so that you can keep track of your progress and stay on course. Assessing your progress helps you stay focused, meet your deadlines, and feel the excitement of moving closer toward your goal.
You can measure your goal by asking questions such as:
– How much?
– How many?
- Achievable
Your goals should be realistic and achievable. In other words, it is ok if you have to step outside of your comfort zone, as long as it something that can be done. If it is something that you do not believe you can achieve, it will de-motivate you, but if it is something you think you can achieve, you will be more open and receptive to the possibilities. You know you can attain a goal when you can see how you will achieve it.
- Relevant
Oh, this is a big one. How important is your goal for YOU? How badly do YOU want to achieve this goal? Too often, we want something because we see others doing it or having it. Is it in alignment with your core values and your purpose in life?
Is this goal for my own puny little needs, or is this goal inspiring other’s lives? Is it helping, guiding, teaching, empowering, uplifting, and transforming others? How will my achieving of this goal benefit others?
- Time-related
Deadline, deadline, deadline. Need I say more? You have got to have a deadline you can focus on and move toward. When you have a deadline, a specific date in mind, you can more easily break it down in monthly goals, weekly goals, and daily habits.
SMART is a simple and effective tool that gives you the clarity you need, the focus, and motivation to achieve your goals. It can be easily used by anyone, anywhere, and can be applied to any area of your life.
To out SMART, your goals means you practice, practice, practice, and practice some more using SMART goals to every single objective. In other words, SMART goals, set it, meet it, repeat.
If this message encouraged you, please leave me a comment below. I would love to hear from you.
For other goal-related articles, please refer to 2 golden rules to smash your goals and how to smash your goals.
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