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Demystify SMART Goals

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.

Tags: SMART goals