SMART goal. It is a phrase that most people have heard, but what is a SMART goal exactly? Let me break it down for you.

S – Specific. M – Measurable. A – Actionable. R – Relevant. T – Time-based. Having each part of this formula included in every goal you set will increase the likelihood of achieving those goals. They provide the clarity and focus required to get the most out of your efforts.

Who doesn’t want that? Let’s dig into the details of how to do it.

S – Specific

You must be clear and specific when setting your smart goals so your goals are easier to achieve. This also helps you know where to get started and how to proceed. You need to know what will be accomplished and what actions will you take? In this section you should answer the What, and Why of the goal.

Example: Specific Goal – I will create a plan to increase my revenue by 30% over last month in order to pay for our summer vacation by reverse engineering my desired income and adjusting my daily method of operation to make the contacts necessary to reach my goal. The plan will be created by October 15th and execution will begin immediately and actions will be daily.

M – Measurable

Measurable goals can be tracked allowing you to see your progress. They also allow you to know what a goal has been reached. It is important to be able to track your progress so you can adjust your action in order to achieve your goals in a timely manner. If you can’t measure it – the likelihood of achieving it is much lower. The M is a direct (or possibly indirect) indicator of what success for a particular goal will look like. Measurement methods can be quantitative and qualitative.

You have to know what the bullseye looks like in order to aim for it.

Example: Measurable Goal – I will create a plan to increase my revenue by 30% over last month in order to pay for our summer vacation by reverse engineering my desired income and adjusting my daily method of operation to make the contacts necessary to reach my goal. The plan will be created by October 15th and execution will begin immediately and actions will be daily.

A – Actionable

Are you able to take action to achieve the goal? Actionable goals ensure the steps to get there are within your control. You want to avoid setting goals that solely rely on other people’s actions. This section of your goal should address who will do it and how. The goal is meant to inspire motivation, not discouragement.

THINK ABOUT:

• How to accomplish the goal
• If you have the tools/skills needed
• If not, consider what it would take to attain them

Example: Actionable Goal – I will create a plan to increase my revenue by 30% over last month in order to pay for our summer vacation by reverse engineering my desired income and adjusting my daily method of operation to make the contacts necessary to reach my goal. The plan will be created by October 15th and execution will begin immediately and actions will be daily.

R – Relevant

Is this relevant to your life right now? You can avoid overwhelm and unnecessary stress by making sure the goal is relevant to this season of your life. Can you realistically attain it right now? Smart goals can and should be a stretch but not so much of a stretch that you feel defeated when you look at how far away it is. You also need to make sure it makes sense in the broader long term vision for your business or life. You must state what results can realistically be achieved, given available resources. This section can also be where you state your “why”.

If you are a femalepreneur that has a baby due in a few weeks, make sure that your goals for that time frame take into account the season you are in and all that will be demanded of you. Don’t set yourself up to fail before you start.

Example: Relevant Goal – I will create a plan to increase my revenue by 30% over last month in order to pay for our summer vacation by reverse engineering my desired income and adjusting my daily method of operation to make the contacts necessary to reach my goal. The plan will be created by October 15th and execution will begin immediately and actions will be daily.

T – Timely

And last but not least – you must get specific on when your goal needs to be achieved. A date helps you to stay focused and motivated, inspiring you and giving you something to work toward. Anyone can set goals, but if it lacks realistic timing, chances are you’re not going to succeed. You have to provide a target date and then get specific on the deliverables needed to succeed.

Example: Timely Goal – I will create a plan to increase my revenue by 30% over last month in order to pay for our summer vacation by reverse engineering my desired income and adjusting my daily method of operation to make the contacts necessary to reach my goal. The plan will be created by October 15th and execution will begin immediately and actions will be daily.

“People are not lazy. They simply have impotent goals—that is, goals that do not inspire them.” — Tony Robbins

Goals give meaning to life. Without them we grow stagnant. And stagnant things atrophy and eventually die. Relook at how you are setting your smart goals and I promise, there will be no dying – only thriving!

Want more?

If you want to know more about not just setting but ACHIEVING your goals, consider investing in yourself and your business by attending my Goal Achievers Mastermind. It’s going to be AWESOME! Or you can jump over to my blog post on time blocking that can really help when you are trying to achieve your goals.