DECIDE ON A GOAL
When deciding on a goal, keep it
realistic. If you want to be a writer,
your first goal shouldn’t be to win
a Pulitzer. Maybe a more realistic
goal would be getting an article
published, joining a writing group,
or taking a writing class. Good goals
should challenge, not overwhelm or
frustrate you.
S.M.A.R.T. GOALS
YOU CAN MAGAZINE
S.M.A.R.T. is
the acronym
used in goal
setting. It
stands for:
Specific,
Measurable,
Actionable,
Realistic and
Time-bound...
”
S.M.A.R.T. is the acronym used in
goal setting. It stands for: Specific,
Measurable, Actionable, Realistic
and Time-bound. Let’s look at each.
SPECIFIC – Your goal must
identify exactly what you want
to attain in as much specificity as
possible.
A poor example: I want to lose
weight.
A good example: I want to lose five
pounds.
MEASURABLE – This step
helps you define your goal further.
Your goal must be measurable to be
manageable. Avoid vague statements
such as; I want to make more money.
When do you want to make more
money? How much more money do
you want to make? The following are
measurable goals regarding money.
A poor example: I want to make
more money
A good example: I want to make
$5,000 more this year.
ACTIONABLE – Statements
about your goals should show
action, and no, this is not high
school English class, but I hope you
remembered your verbs. Here’s an
example; I need to go to the gym
more. Kind of passive isn’t it? Now,
let’s have a little more action; I
exercise three times a week. You get
the idea. Don’t refer to the goal in
the future; refer to it in the here and
now.
REALISTIC- Caution is
advised here. A good rule is using
common sense. A good goal should
stretch your limits and move you
just to the edge of your comfort
zone. Once there, you can take a step,
or two, outside your zone. Here’s
an example. You’re only exercise is
channel surfing, but you decide to
turn over a new leaf. Your goal is
completing the Boston Marathon.
Clearly, this is not realistic after
couch surfing for years. But that
doesn’t mean you can’t start on
a smaller scale and work up to
a marathon. Start setting small
actionable goals such as walking.
Then you could progress to walking
five days a week, then a slow jog, and
then begin training for a marathon.
TIME-BOUND -
Time is
a critical factor in achieving your
goals. Without a completion date for
the goal, it is just a dream—someday,
I’ll take a cooking class; someday, I’ll
lose weight; someday, I’ll start my
own business. When you don’t set a
time for completion, your goal will
never materialize. Stop dreaming
and start doing. Set a time line for
your goals and treat it as a priority.
Sometimes, life will get in the way,
and you may have to re-adjust, but
keep on plugging away, you’ll get
there.
WRITE IT DOWN - I can’t
emphasize it enough, write it down.
A goal not written is only a wish-that’s how it winds up on your New