Beyond SMART Goals

Word Count: 580

Summary: Making a goal SMART is only the first step in
making that goal a reality; here are 10 practical steps to
achieving your SMART goals

============================================================================
Beyond SMART Goals

These days, everyone seems to be talking about SMART goals.
That is, goals that are:

............Specific
..............Measurable
................Achievable
..................Rewarding
....................Time-based

However, making a goal SMART is only the first step in
making that goal a reality. Here are 10 practical steps to
achieving your SMART goals:

1. Set a SMART goal. Make sure your goal can pass the SMART
test. Is your goal clearly defined (specific)? Can the
results of your goal be quantified (measurable)? Is the
goal realistic (achievable)? Will achieving this goal be
beneficial (rewarding)? Is there a clear date set to
meet the goal (time-based)?

2. Align your goals with your values. There are certain
things in life that each individual values: family,
honesty, spirituality, having fun, wealth, etc. Goals that
are not aligned with your values are goals that are doomed
to failure. Take a moment to ask yourself: Why do I want
this goal? What is it going to help me accomplish? Who
will it make me become?

3. Tell 3 - 5 key people about your goal. Sharing your
goals with others help you become more accountable. Be
sure the people you are telling are people who are
supportive and positive.

4. Identify the necessary resources. What are some things
that you need to make your goal happen? For example, if
your goal is to lose weight, purchasing exercise tapes
would be useful. Or if your goal is to change careers,
perhaps you can find 2 or 3 people in your field of
interest.

5. Identify time savers. While taking short-cuts can
sometimes be detrimental to your achievement, there is no
need to "recreate the wheel." Why spend countless hours
creating a business plan from scratch when there is great
deal of software, templates, and samples available to you.
Identify ways your can accelerate your progress.

6. Identify potential obstacles. What are things, that
you know, right now, could hold you back from reaching your
goal? Maybe you spend a lot of time playing computer games
when your time would be better spent doing research for your
new business; delete the games.

7. Identify a single daily action. What is the one thing
you could do every day, that will help propel you towards
your goal? Take a 15 minute walk? Make a sales call to a
potential client? Its not the big spectacular events that
get us where we need to be. Its the little things we do
everyday.

8. Identify a support structure. What people, things or
processes can provide you encouragement? You could find 2
or 3 other friends who are trying to lose weight, and have a
weekly support meeting. You could post your business plan
on your office wall as a constant reminder to what you're
working towards.

9. Identify rewards. In order for a goal to be SMART it
must be personally rewarding and little rewards along the
way will make achieving your goal that much more fun. Maybe
every time you lose 10 pounds you buy a new outfit. Maybe
once you get your business plan complete you take a day off
and go to the park. We all know what they say about all work
and no play; remember to enjoy the journey.

10. What's next? This is not "what are you going to do
after you accomplish your goal?" This is "what are you
going to do after you read this article?" The journey
to achievement starts now, not tomorrow.