SMART Goals

S.M.A.R.T. = Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time sensitive goals.

The S of SMART = Specific

Here’s an unspecific goal, “To own a new car.” That’s a nice goal. Is it possible? Absolutely! But what is a new car? How would you define new?

In other words, what year, what colour, what make, what’s the interior like, what sort of stereo… get specific! Name it, this thing that you desire. For example, “A 1972, red MG convertible with racing stripes and a leather interior” if that’s what turns you on.

What would you get if you were to sit down in a restaurant and when the waitress asks, “Can I take your order?” you reply, “Give me food.” “What sort of food? “Anything will do!”

Imagine booking an airline ticket, “Where to Sir?” “Oh anywhere will do.” That’s so silly but this is where many people live all of their lives.

Don't bargain with life for a penny!

“To be the boss” verses, “To be the department head of my company’s computer department.”
“To lose some weight” verses, “To weigh 78 kilos.”
“To see the world” verses, “To explore North America, Italy and Spain.”
“To own a Mercedes-Benz” verses, “To own a current model, silver, ML-320, with lambs wool seat covers.” These are specific verses nonspecific goals.

You need a clearly defined target if you're going to use the principles of empowerment to hit it.

The M in SMART stands for Measurable

A measurable goal is a goal that can be broken down into a series of bite size pieces.

Hey, if you can’t measure something, you can’t manage it. Another thing about a measurable goal is, you will know for sure when you’ve achieved it.

So a measurable goal is not ethereal or intangible. It’s a goal that can be chunked down into sub-goals (bite size pieces) that can be managed through time.

The A and the R of SMART stand for Attainable and Realistic

Unrealistic goals, goals that are way out of sight won’t pull you into the future. Why? Because if they’re totally out of sight you won’t believe that you can achieve them. So why would you try?

To go from runt to bigger than Arnold Schwarzenegger in 3 weeks might be just a tad unattainable and unrealistic!

Set your goals a little out of reach but not out of sight.

Finally,

The T in the SMART acronym stands for Time sensitive

Time sensitive goals are goals that you believe you can achieve within the next 18 months.

Remember, to start a fire you’ve got to concentrate your focus.

So that’s the SMART formula for goal setting and goal getting. Create Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time sensitive goals.