Goal Setting - Part 2

This is an article I published in EzineArticles.com

The Key To Successful Goal Setting Is To Be S.M.A.R.T.

It seems like the first thing anyone will tell you about being successful is to focus on successful goal setting. But when you’re not exactly sure what kind of goals you should be setting, it can be a challenge to know what you need in order to succeed in both your professional and personal life. Sure, it’d be nice to tell yourself that you’ll become extremely wealthy, retire early from your job and then travel the world; after all, many people are successful because they dream big! But these kinds of goals will psychologically set you up for failure, because – at first - they can’t be realistically attained, which will make you feel like an absolute failure. So where should you begin to avoid this pitfall? The key is to think S.M.A.R.T:

Specific – Goals that are specific are much more productive that general goals, as they give you a concrete direction in which to take your personal and professional life. For example, if you want to earn $100,000 in sales during your first year of opening that small business you’ve always dreamed about, you’d have a better chance at success by setting up tangible ways to get there – such as developing effective marketing schemes or expanding your clientele base – as opposed to just expecting to make that money.

Measurable – Whether you’re setting a goal to lose those last few pounds or get that promotion at work, you’re going to need those goals to be measurable. So what does it mean to set measurable goals? Simple: a measurable goal is one that can be tracked throughout your progress. For example, by setting a measurable goal of losing five pounds within a month, you can keep track each week of the progress you’re making towards the fulfillment of your desired outcome.

Attainable – In order to succeed, you’ll need to be able to establish goals that you can realistically reach. When you reach these goals, your confidence and self-image will flourish, which in term will have a direct impact on your own professional and personal life.

Realistic – This is similar to attainable goals. For example, if you’re a small business owner, a realistic goal might be to expand your staff, increase profits by 25%, or simply gain new clients. However, an unrealistic goal might be expecting to earn several millions of dollars in your first year of operation. Dream big, but be reasonable - this is an easy way to set yourself up for failure!

Timely – A time frame will tie in all of these factors together, and make it easier to track the progress of your goals. Don’t use “someday” for a time line; instead, set concrete deadlines, such as “By December 1st, I will save up $600 towards my dream trip to Australia”. See how motivating this can be?

In the end, only you will know what kind of goals you’ll need to set in order to succeed. But if you get stuck trying to come up with goals that make sense for you, just remember to think S.M.A.R.T!