Your goals and your habits are major factors in determining your future. Applying the SMART concept to your goals is a method to help you reach your objectives. I first discovered SMART goals while working at biotech founder, Genentech, back in 2006, and then came across it again in a book about starting up a successful DJ business. Since then, many accomplished people I’ve connected with have also incorporated SMART goals into their lives and I’ve noticed it being used in other corporate environments.
All successful people set goals.
I haven’t found one consistently successful person who did not set goals (as simple or as complex as they may be). People who have achieved and maintained lasting success have goals with an action plan.
What is S.M.A.R.T.?
SMART is an acronym applied to goal-setting, project management and personal/professional development, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.
Let’s dig a little deeper into each part of SMART…
Specific
Don’t be vague about your goals. The more specific you can make your goal, the more powerful it becomes. You need to be able to see it in your “mind’s eye”. Each goal should be a meaningful specific, not a wandering generality. Think about the “6 W’s”: who, what, when, where, why, how.
Bad example: “The goal is to lose weight this year.”
Good Example: “The goal is to lose 10 pounds and 3% body fat in 3 months, so I can confidently strut around on the beach this Summer.”
Measurable
Quantify your goal. How will you know whether or not you’re moving towards the achievement of your goal? Without the ability to track your progress, you’ll have have no idea if you’re moving towards or away from your goal. On the other hand, tracking your progress can be a powerful way to stay motivated. With the ability to see yourself getting closer to your target, you’ll maintain the energy to keep moving forward.
As Peter Drucker says: “What gets measured gets managed.”
Attainable
Be honest with yourself and what you can reasonably accomplish at the moment. Keep in mind your current responsibilities and other personal factors. Consider your current energy level, habits, attitudes, skills, etc.
Realistic
Here is where balance is important. You want your goal to be compelling and inspiring, but also something you believe is possible.
Before achieving some of their greatest accomplishments, people such as the Wright Brothers, Edison, Einstein, Steve Jobs, Henry Ford, etc. were engaged in what the rest of the world at the time thought was “unrealistic”, but to them, their goals were indeed realistic. We’re all impacted by their efforts and persistence to make their dreams a reality.
Timely
Associate a time frame with your goals. Without a target date, resistance will develop and procrastination will fill in the time. If you set a general goal of losing weight with no target date, you will most likely delay action, while at the same time engaging in activities that will take you further from my goal. In contrast, if you set a specific goal to lose 10 pounds in 3 months, and plan out your timely actions by month/week/day, then you are significantly more likely to achieve your goal.
It’s also important to know that there are many factors that are not in your control. As a result, the target you originally set to achieve your goal may shift. Do not let this discourage you. Simply change your target date and keep moving towards your goal. You’ll find that the extra time was needed to make achieving your goal more fulfilling, and you may also receive new insights into desiring something greater.
Remember: a goal is a dream with a date and timely action steps.
There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Method to Goal-Setting
Goal-setting is such an important skill in designing your lifestyle. The important thing is to determine what works best for you. Ideally you should be reviewing your goals frequently (monthly/weekly/daily etc), not just once a year. The frequency of how often you should be reviewing depends on the types of goals set.
Use any or all of the SMART goal ideas to your advantage! Goal-setting is simply a way to map out your plan to get what you desire.
If this article was useful to you, please share with others and sign up to receive future updates on goal-setting.
Leave a Reply