Hey there, you badass goal-getters!
Have you ever felt like your goals are as elusive as a unicorn in a forest? I know I have, which is why I’ve done a deep dive into the world of SMART goals, and it has changed my life.
What are smart goals, you may ask? Well, they’re the superheroes of the goal-setting world. They will rescue you from the clutches of vague intentions. They are the secret sauce to making your dreams a reality. Maybe with SMART goals, this will be the year you keep your New Year’s resolutions. That’s how powerful this SMART goal technique is.
SMART is an acronym that stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Will these SMART goals be able to make you solve complex nuclear physics or outsmart that annoying coworker of yours? Not exactly (although that would be pretty cool).
Think of SMART goals as the ultimate goal-setting checklist to ensure you’re on the right track.
S – Specific. Your goals should be as well-defined and specific as possible. None of this vague ‘’I want to be rich’’ nonsense. Be specific about what rich means to you. A million dollars? A private island? A gold-plated hot tub? Specific goals are laser beams—they hone in on exactly what you want to achieve.
When in doubt, ask yourself: What do I want to happen?
M – Measurable. The goal you’ve set must align with explicit metrics. That’s how you track your progress and how you know when and if you’ve reached your goal. Instead of saying, ‘’I want to become more reliable,’’ say ‘’I don’t want to miss an appointment with anyone for a whole month.’’
When in doubt, ask yourself: How will I know when I’ve reached my goal?
A – Achievable. Your goal should be doable with a sprinkle of effort, not a miracle. Instead of saying, ’’I want to learn a new language by next week.’’ That might be a bit of a stretch. Say, I want to practice Italian for an hour two times a week.’’ Now, that’s an achievable goal.
When in doubt, ask yourself: Is the goal realistic, and how will I obtain it?
R – Relevant. Your goal should align with YOUR personal philosophy and values. They should support your short-term and long-term dreams. Don’t set up a goal to run a marathon if you hate running and got bad knees.
When in doubt, ask yourself: Why is my goal important to me?
T – Time-bound. Ah, the ticking clock of accountability. Time is the ultimate motivator. Give those bad-ass goals of yours a deadline. Without a deadline, most goals end up lost in the universe like all your lost hair ties and hairpins. Instead of saying, ‘’I want to start a blog,’’ say, ‘’I’m going to start a blog by the end of the week.’’
When in doubt, ask yourself: What is the deadline for my goal?
A fleshed-out SMART goal example:
A Not-So-SMART Goal: Save money for an emergency fund.
A SMARTened Up Goal: Save $100 a month toward an emergency fund for a year.
Let’s do a deep dive:
Specific (the goal) – Save $100 a month toward an emergency fund for a year.
Measurable – In this instance, your chosen metric is dollars, so it’s easy to check your progress and know whether or not you’ll have reached your goal by the end of the year.
Achievable – You know your budget; it might take work to save $100 a month, but if you work hard, you know it’s not unrealistic. Review monthly expenses and adjust spending to meet savings goals.
Relevant – Building an emergency fund provides financial security and peace of mind which is a relevant goal for most people.
Time-bound – According to your goal, you‘ll need to have saved $1200 in a year. One year is your deadline.
Remember, if you don’t reach your goal within the allotted time, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed or that you are a failure. If you planned to earn $10K in one month but only earned $5K, that doesn’t mean your time or efforts were wasted. You might not have $10K, but you’ll have $5K. And $5K is more than you had when you began. And it’s definitely better than a big fat zero.
Set goals that matter to you. Don’t set a goal to buy a house next year just because your BFF is doing it. Don’t be pressured into doing something that doesn’t align with the dreams you have for your life. No one else is going to live your life or accomplish your goals for you.
Your life, your goals.
Are you ready to take your goal-setting game to the next level?
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Wanna know a secret?
Here’s an extra spicy tip that I practice
This leads me to an extra thing I always ask myself whenever I use the SMART goal method. I ask myself—What would this goal make of me if I were to achieve it?
If I can’t answer that question, chances are my goal is either not for me or I haven’t worded it right.
If I set a goal to write the first draft of a fantasy romance book in a year, I will ask myself—What will this goal make of me if I achieve it? Well, it would be the first step in the process of becoming an author, which is the goal I want to achieve.
OR
If I set the following goal: I want to try out a new recipe once a week for a year.
I will then ask myself: What will this goal make of me if I were to achieve it?
The answer: I would learn more about food, I would improve my skills in the kitchen (hopefully), I would be healthier (if these are healthy recipes).
Again, if I don’t have any answers to this question, then there’s a problem with the goal.
There you have it, folks! Setting SMART goals is a powerful strategy that can turn your dreams into reality. SMART goals are like your personal GPS – they help you navigate the twists and turns of life with a clear destination in mind.
Remember to review and adjust your goals regularly to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with your evolving priorities.
Now that you’re armed with the power of SMART goals, go forth and conquer the world, or at the very least try to knock a few items off your to-do list.
Until next time, stay smart, stay goal-oriented, and sprinkle a bit of humor on everything – even your goals.
