by Phyllis Mufson, Catalyst for Personal & Professional Growth
Need help staying on track and staying motivated as you take steps to build your business? Consider setting goals and tracking your progress using the SMART model. The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound.
Get specific. While you might dream of getting in shape, setting a simple, clear, specific goal – such as being able to swim laps for an hour or to be awarded a black belt in karate – points you directly toward the actions to take to reach your goal.
Measurable goals include a way to track your progress. When goals are measurable, you know how far you are from achieving them and you know when you’ve reached them. For example, in Weight Watchers, members track their progress by writing what they eat, getting weighed weekly and winning rewards when they reach milestones.
Attainable goals are goals you believe you can accomplish, that are a realistic stretch. Most people find it difficult to maintain motivation for goals that are set too high – or too low.
Relevant goals are goals that are relevant to you. They are goals that you believe in and that you are willing and able to work toward. When you choose goals that are in line with your values – and in service of a vision of your life that has you excited – you will be truly motivated.
Time-bound means that your goal is anchored with a time frame. That is, “I will have five speaking engagements by September 1.” Goals without time-lines tend to get lost in what’s immediate and urgent in your current life. Commitment to time-lines and deadlines helps you focus your efforts and make a priority of doing the actions that are important to realizing your goals.
