Goal setting is the most important first step towards having the life, love, relationships and careers we crave.
Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination. ~ Fitzhugh Dodson
Question, what's your top goal for this month? this year? Because I know how important your goals are to you, I’d like to share this quick lesson on SMART Goals. Have you heard of SMART Goals before? S.M.A.R.T. stands for:
Setting SMART Goals ensures that you are clear on:
where you’re going,
how you’ll know when you’ve arrived,
how you’re getting there,
why it matters, and
when you want to be there by.
For instance, if your goal is to get a raise, don’t just pick any number out of the air. Know exactly how much more you’d like to make, which covers being both specific and measurable. Quantify exactly what that amount will do for your life so it feels relevant i.e., know that a raise of $3,000 will pay for 15 piano lessons for your kid, pay off student loans in one year vs. two years or pay for the Miami Beach vacation you want to take. Create actionable steps to move you toward your goal. Those could include, making a list of professional achievements and contributions you want to highlight to your supervisor or practicing your “ask” with a career coach or like-minded people.
And lastly, set a timeframe for when you plan to ask. See what I mean? When our goals aren’t SMART, what we really have on our hands is a wish or a hope. Wishes and hopes rely on external factors beyond our control. SMART Goals are us taking control into our own hands. So, I ask you: is that top goal that you’ve set for yourself a SMART Goal? Not sure? Email me for feedback.