Setting SMART Goals: Part 1 of 3

Whether you're in a sales position or own your own business, it pays to set powerful goals to support you in creating success. The "SMART" goal-setting guide is used by many successful professionals, and this simple yet effective tool can assist you as well.



SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.



The "S" in SMART stands for Specific. In order for your goals to be effective, they must be specific. Consider that setting a goal to "get a car" is not as powerful as creating a goal to "own a brand-new 2011 black Toyota Highlander with tan leather interior, all-wheel drive, sunroof, deluxe upgrade package and ski rack."



If it's a Toyota Highlander (for example) that you've got your eye set on, the first example of "get a car" is just not going to get it done. Would you settle for a twenty-year-old Chevy Nova? Of course not, but setting a goal to "get a car" leaves the door open for too many things that you don't want, instead of focusing on what you do want.



If your goal is a non-material goal, the rule of specificity still applies. For example, if you goal is to "be happier" then what is it that you specifically wish to see change in your life? Do you want to smile more? Feel less pressure from work or family? Create more life balance? Have more fun? What specifically would you do if you were able to have more fun? Would you go on vacation more? Spend more time on your hobbies (or take up new ones)?



The fact is, you will get what you focus on, so the more specific you are about what you want, the more likely you will be to achieve that, as opposed to something similar but less desirable to you.



Next, we look at "M" for Measurable.



Effective goals are specific and measurable. It has long been said that whatever we measure will improve, so it makes sense to make your goals measurable. Additionally, creating a measurable goal means you will know when you've achieved the goal.



Using our earlier examples, we can see that if the goal is to own a 2011 Toyota Highlander by a certain date, then you can simply look in your garage or driveway on that date and know whether or not the goal was achieved.



But what if your goal is more abstract, as in our "be happier" example? In this case, you might consider using a scale of 1-10 to measure your progress. For example, let's say you wish to be happier because your work is stressful and you want to be a better parent to your children. Let's also say that your current happiness level on a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being miserable and 10 being ecstatic) is currently a 4. You could begin to rate your happiness at the end of each day, and notice whether it goes up.



As mentioned previously, whatever you put your attention and focus on will grow, so if you begin to place your attention and focus on measuring your own happiness, you will see it begin to improve. Track your progress with a simple chart or notebook, and watch your happiness increase.



If your goals are centered around generating more sales, or earning more money, then track that progress as well. Be sure to set specific goals that you can measure, whether it represents a percentage improvement (e.g., 10% increase in sales) or a specific target (e.g., amass five new clients by the 20th).



When goals are specific and measurable, they are much easier to achieve (and you are much more likely to actually get what you want).





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