SMART Goals: New beginnings come with new enthusiasm. There’s renewed energy, optimism and a yearning to put things right with every turn of a new year. If you find yourself making resolutions at the beginning of the year, all you are attempting is to set goals. A question begs; how often do you keep pace with these aspirations?
Wanting to do better is good; however, if you go about it with no clarity, frustrations are bound to set in – the main reason why most resolutions do not last past the first week of January.
For clarity, resolutions are GOALS! Simply put, lifestyle choices are financial goals – give it some thought. Thus, if every year your resolutions seem to stop making sense in the first week, it’s time to change the approach. Written goals are better than mere pronunciations. There is no denying that our mind is a super machine. However, for it to serve us better, it requires harmony – goal setting gives you this.
This article aims at simplifying the practice of making lasting resolutions. It introduces you to the art of setting SMART goals. You will agree that goals are part of every aspect of our lives. Every day you set goals that add up to weeks, months and eventually years. When done right, goals give us a sense of direction, motivation, and a clear focus to separate priorities from wishes.
Here’s a different sort of SMART to help you view goal setting from a different perspective:
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Here’s a brief breakdown to help you as you build toward setting SMART goals
Specific: must be well defined, clear, and unambiguous – Simple, Significant and willingness to commit Sacrifices…
Measurable: have a specific standard to measure progress – maintaing a positive Mindset.
Achievable: should be possible to achieve and Attainable – Does it a Agree with your values? Ready to stay Accountable? – to yourself and goal
Realistic: must be within reach, realistic, and Relevant to your life purpose. Also, what are the likely Results and Rewards?
Time-bound: have clearly defined timeline(s) with a starting date and an end date. Tracking, Tasks and Tools fit here as well.
A Further Breakdown…
Be Specific with your SMART Goals
When a goal is specific, it offers you great odds of achieving it. Use the 5 Wives and a Husband for clarity:
- Who is involved in this goal?
- What do you want to accomplish?
- Where is this goal to be achieved?
- When do you want to achieve this goal?
- Why do you want to achieve this goal?
- How are you going about the whole planning?
Example: You always work your socks off every year and you’ve had enough of your friends bragging about taking a holiday once a year.
A general goal would be: I will also take a holiday sometime in the future. A specific goal is: I am planning to go to Mombasa for a holiday in December this year.
Who is going? – You + family or friends.
What for? – Adventure and relaxation.
Where – Mombasa; a known destination.
When? – December this year.
Why – because I want to explore and relax after a year’s hard work.
How – savings up for the trip’s expenses in 10 months.
Your SMART Goals should be Measurable
A standard of measure helps you gauge your progress with the goal. If no means of measure exists, what you have at hand is a wish. A criterion to measure progress makes you know whether you are on course or off-course. Areas of measurement include:
- How many steps does the goal have?
- How much will it cost in terms of time and resources?
- How do I know if I have reached my goal?
- How does my progress indicator read?
Achievable or Attainable
Are you punching within your weight?
Relevant or Realistic
It must be within reach, realistic, and Relevant to your life purpose.
Your SMART Goals must be Time-bound
SMART goals must have a start date and an end date. Timelines provide us with a sense of urgency and commitment to observe deadlines. To improve on the example goal above (under specific), you can work out: how to pay for it (make a provision) or when to set aside funds to cover the holiday costs. For another example, see the 52-Week Savings Challenge.
