Whether you realize it or not, when you decide to do something, you automatically set a goal for yourself. Goals can be set for smaller or larger tasks. For example, something as simple as deciding to put on your shoes and go to the store to buy a loaf of bread before your favorite soap comes on TV is setting a goal. However, if you’re not used to setting goals consciously, a good way to start is to use the SMART system. Setting SMART objectives will help you better understand what you want to get out of the activity and how to plan the work or project so that you make the most effective use of your time.
What is a smart goal?
SMART means:
- SSpecific: For an objective to be effective, it must be specific. You must detail exactly what you want to achieve. There’s no use just saying ‘I want to be better. It does not specify what you want to be better at, how you will measure if you are better or not, how long do you expect it to take to be better… Do you see the problem? On the other hand, stating that your goal is to be a millionaire by age 50 is very specific. It outlines what you want to achieve, when you want to achieve it, and gives you a very clear outcome to aim for.
- METEReasy: being able to measure progress is vital to reaching your goals. How else will you know where you are now, how far you have to go, and when you have reached it? Taking the example above, you can see that there are several areas that can be measured:
- your age now
- how long do you have to reach 50
- where are your finances now
- how far do you have to go to become a millionaire
As you progress through your plan, you’ll be able to assess whether the actions you’ve taken have been positive steps toward your goal and how far you still have to go.
- INreadable – ‘I want to be a millionaire when I am 50′ It is a specific goal and it is measurable, but is it achievable? If you’re only 20 years old, it’s very doable with a little hard work and planning. However, if you are only a week away from turning 50he birthday, you’ll probably need a miracle, or a lottery win, to reach your goal.
- R.Realistic: This is closely related to the likelihood that your goal will be achievable and it’s time for a reality check. What you need to determine is if what you want to achieve is really possible. Take this extreme example: you are 80 years old and you want to fly into space. Actually, if you had the millions to pay for the ticket, you could reserve a seat on a pleasure flight to space. However, even if you had the money, would it be realistic to think that an 80-year-old man would go through the rigorous physical training necessary to travel into space? The answer is probably no, which makes this goal unrealistic.
- youimely – deadlines are very important! You should set deadlines for each goal you want to achieve. Deadlines give you specific dates to work on. So if you decide you want to be a millionaire at 50 and you’re 20 now, you know how much time you have to achieve your goal and you can plan an effective way to achieve your goal. If you don’t set deadlines, you are in danger of procrastinating and doing nothing.
Goals have the ultimate goal of acting as motivation. When thought out and planned correctly, they give you realistic points to aim for. And when you reach your goals, the feeling of satisfaction is wonderful. So think, plan and set SMART goals for success.