I have always been a great fan of goals.  I know that studies 
have shown that people who set goals are generally more 
successful.  I won't research and quote them here because 
that's not very exciting.  Personally, I like the motivation 
that I derive from having set a goal, and it is even more 
effective when it is a "published" goal, meaning you have 
shared it with someone else.

My opinion is that setting goals is good, but setting SMART 
goals is even better.  So what the heck is a SMART goal?  Here 
is the key:

S          M            A             R           T
Specific   Measurable   Attainable    Relevant    Time Based



Here's how you check the "quality" of your goals

So let's take these attributes one by one.  The first criterion 
is to be specific.  For example, if you put down a goal of 
wanting to be more successful, that is not very specific.  But 
if you say that I want to make more money.  That is more 
specific.  The more specifically you are able to define your 
goal, the easier it is for you to know when you have achieved 
it.

The next test is whether your goal is measurable.  So, building 
on the example above, more money is sort of measurable, but not 
really.  Let's modify our goal to say "I want to make 20% more 
money."  Now the goal is measurable.

The third check is whether it is attainable.  We all want goals 
that challenge us and make us stretch.  But if it is so far out 
of reach that it takes divine intervention for it to happen, 
then how long do you think you'll keep trying?  So, checking on 
our example, if you are an entrepreneur and you have lots of 
control over your income, the 20% may be attainable.  If you 
work for a company that has a rigid salary structure, the 20% 
may be a real "only when pigs fly" goal.  So, do a reality check 
on how attainable your goal is so you can stay motivated and not 
feel it is hopeless and give up at the first obstacle, yet still 
have enough of a challenge that it really means something to you 
when you achieve it.

The fourth check is if your goal is relevant.  This may sound 
kind of strange, but what this is getting at is what makes it 
so important to you that you achieve this goal.  If the answer 
is that it is not that important, how hard do you think you will 
work to achieve it?  Again building on our example, the goal is 
important because it will afford me a trip abroad, and that is 
one way I nurture myself, and that is my motivation.

Last check on the quality of your goal, is it time-based, 
meaning is there a completion date or some other time element 
attached to it?  So, one more modification:  "I want to make 
20% more money in 2004 than I did in 2003."  Now the goal is 
time-based, and it qualifies as a SMART goal.  Another example 
of a time-based goal that does not involve a completion date 
is cooking dinner for my family three times a week.  That is 
an on-going goal that also has all the SMART elements.


Now on to action

Now that you know all about how to set smart goals, what goals 
would you like to set for yourself?  Once you have settled on a 
few that feels right, share them with someone who cares about 
you, and wants you to succeed, so they can be a supporter and 
cheerleader along the way.  Check in on your goals periodically 
to see if you are moving in the right direction and if there are 
any adjustments you want to make, both to your approach and to 
your goals.  There is nothing that says that once you have set a 
goal, that's it, it is cast in concrete.  If you want to revise 
them, it is up to you.  After all, this is about what you want, 
right?