14/01/2021
Make a S.M.A.R.T Goal!
Step One: Make a list.
What do you want to achieve this year? Consider all aspects of your life (career, business, school, etc.), and donโt be afraid to think both short-term and long-term. Write them down. Create a list.
Step Two: Break it down.
Select one dream from your list. Weโll focus on one at a time. Which dream stands out to you as one that youโd like to focus on right away? Which one is the most urgent or immediate?
Step Three: Make it S.M.A.R.T
S.M.A.R.T is an acronym to ensure that your dream doesnโt remain a dream but rather takes the form of an attainable goal. Use the following acronym to rewrite your dream as a goal.
S: Specific, Simple, Significant, and Strategic
Is your goal specific? How can you rewrite your goal in more precise, simple, and meaningful terms? Example: I want to buy a 100sq.meter lot for my future house. That's a precise goal indeed.
M: Measurable
Is your goal measurable? How will you know if you are getting closer or farther away from making your goal a reality? For example, I will save this amount every week to reach my goal.
A: Achievable
Is your goal achievable? We are all about shooting for the stars. But letโs be sure to set ourselves up for success by creating goals that are a reach but
possible. Thereโs nothing wrong with holding yourself to a high standard; but when we set goals that are too ambitious, we might find ourselves discouraged and therefore less likely to follow through. Be sure to set challenging yet attainable standards.
R: Relevant
Is your goal relevant? Make sure that your goal pertains to an aspect of your life that is important and immediate because it will inspire you more to reach your goal.
T: Timely/ Time-Bounded
Does your goal have a time requirement? Working toward a goal is far more enjoyable and rewarding when you know how long you have to complete it. When times get tough, itโs useful to be able to remind yourself how much time youโve put in and how much time you have left. Having a set time-frame also allows you to set up check-in points with yourself, mentors, teachers, coaches, and parents along the way to discuss your progress.
Step Four: Rewrite your goal.
Now that youโve assessed if your goal is S.M.A.R.T, rewrite it in such a way that reflects its simplicity, measurability, attainability, relevance, and time-requirement. This will allow you to break your goal down into clear and fruitful steps toward making it a reality.
Step Five: Repeat and thrive.
Go back to your list of goals and repeat Steps 3 and 4 to create an entire list of S.M.A.R.T goals. Once you have that, youโve got the tools to make the most out of your future plans.
My last bits of advice? Make a dream board, hang in a place where you can see it daily. And keep reassessing whether your goals remain S.M.A.R.Tโas our lives change, so do our hopes for what weโd like to accomplish. Go get smart!
