Recently, I have had a lot of questions about SMART goals and what they are. So I’d like to resolve that right now…
When it comes to goals and goal setting, the word “SMART” means more than just wise or insightful. Lately, the word has been used as an acronym for five words that experts see as essential for good goal setting, hence the term SMART goals.
Indeed, following these steps, represented by the letters in the word SMART, will put you on your way to achieving those all-important, life-changing SMART goals, whether they pertain to your business life or your professional life.
“S” stands for SPECIFIC. Professional development experts stress that in order to achieve a goal, it needs to be specific, not general in nature. As you consider your SMART goals, you’ll want to ask the all-important “w” questions, including why, when, where, what, and who? For example, your goal may be “Get healthier” but, more specifically, you should state specifics like “Lose 20 pounds, join a health club, and take a healthy cooking class.”
“M” stands for MEASURABLE. Make sure you can measure your progress towards your SMART goals as you get closer to its attainment. Measuring allows you to stay on track and stick to your target date.
“A” stands for ATTAINABLE. Develop ways to make your goals reachable. This may involve changing some habits and stretching to the point where you’re out of your comfort zone. But in the end, you’ll be proud of your accomplishments. Remember, you are worthy of all the goals you set.
“R” stands for REALISTIC. Lofty goals – like “I’m going to make a million dollars next year” – are fun to dream about, but they set some people up for failure and aren’t SMART for everyone, so to speak. Carefully consider each goal before writing it down and be sure that you truly believe you can accomplish it by examining what conditions must exist in order to achieve the goal.
“T” stands for TIME. Put a time limit on your goals, otherwise you’ll have no urgency in working towards them. For example, if you want to save $500 for a vacation, write down the date you must do so by in order to book the trip.
Hope this answers all your questions about SMART goals.
It’s amazing to me that most people still don’t understand the importance of interactive goal setting…
Interactive because you are consistently tweaking and measuring your goals as you march forward.
Experts in organization and motivation all preach similar mantras about goals. It goes something like this: “A wish is just a wish until you write it down. Then it’s a goal.” And Eleanor Roosevelt said “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.”
So why not make goal setting a priority in your life?
All successful entrepreneurs and other business people understand that setting goals is important and that writing down a goal puts a time-line on it, allowing goal-setters to reach for specific aims rather than general ones. Studies show that those who write down their goals are far more successful than those who don’t do so. As a matter of fact, a recent Harvard Business School study, which focused on individuals with similar backgrounds and educations, demonstrated that 3 percent of that study group could be described as very successful, 30 percent as moderately successful, and the other 67 percent not at all successful. Why? The 3 percent had written down specific goals while the second-largest group had some goals but hadn’t put them on paper. The 67 percent hadn’t bothered to even think about goals for their life, either personally or professionally.
Setting goals gives you a clear picture of where you’re headed. Each time you write down a goal, you need to examine whether or not it conflicts with other life goals, why it’s important to you, how you’ll achieve it, and what impact its achievement will have on your life. Also consider what stumbling blocks may be in your way in reaching this goal and think about ways to overcome them.
If you’ve never set goals, begin with easy things – like losing a few pounds, cleaning that messy room in your house, or visiting a sick relative more often. Write down the steps toward achieving each. As you progress through the steps, think about making other goals that may work in tandem with the one’s you’re currently working on.
The results speak for themselves and before you know it, you’ll be setting goals for all aspects of your life including those related to career, relationships, heath and fitness, hobbies and recreation, and personal growth.
H. H. The Dalai Lama
A Public Talk: Awakening the Heart of Selflessness
Radio City Music Hall • May 23
On May 23rd, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a public talk entitled Awakening the Heart of Selflessness. His Holiness will discuss the process of realizing true selflessness and how this realization awakens a genuine caring for others. This is how we achieve inner peace for ourselves, a feeling of responsibility for the happiness of others, and ultimately a more compassionate world for everyone.
Tickets for the public talk are sold separately from his teachings on May 20 – 22 at Radio City Music Hall.
Tickets went on sale YESTERDAY, Thursday, March 18 at 9AM.
Click below to purchase your tickets!
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