Goals aren't created equal. Unrealistic goals don't do you any good at all.
But if you make SMART goals, you'll be able to stick with them and make them happen.
So, what makes a goal smart? Easy.
It has to be:Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.
Have you ever set a goal you got really excited about?
Think back to your New Year's Resolutions. Maybe you wanted to get into shape.
But goals take hard work every day to achieve them. That's why it's easy to lose steam ...
...and not get to where we want to be in the end.
This is where SMART goals help.
Let's take the goal of getting into shape - which isn't a very helpful goal to set...
...and turn that into a SMART goal.
Make it Specific: What exactly do you mean by getting into shape?
Do you want to lose 20 pounds? Or run a marathon? Get down into the details!
Make it Measurable: How will you measure your progress?
You may start by running 10 minutes a day and work up from there.
Make it Achievable: Is your goal possible to achieve?
Can you identify the steps you need to take?
This might mean going to the gym 3 days a week or going on a specific diet.
Make it Relevant: Does your goal mean something to you?
If you really don't enjoy running, but you decide to run a marathon, that might not be the most relevant goal.
And make it Time-Bound: When do you want to reach your goal?
This is going to help motivate you and help with your dayto-day choices.
You might want to lose 20 pounds by the end of the year or you might sign up for a race that's 6 months away.
That's the gist of a SMART goal. Any goal can be made using this method.
Let's apply it to a short-term money goal.
Let's say you want save up for a new laptop. How do we turn that into a SMART goal?
Specific: I want to save up for a Laptop
Measurable: I want to save $699, the cost of the laptop
Achievable: I will save $25 a week for my laptop
Relevant: I earn enough a month to put $25 aside each week
Time-Bound: I want to purchase my laptop in 7 months
By making a SMART goal, you've got a plan not just for how you'll get your laptop in the end,
but what you need to do in the short-term to get there.
Whatever your goal might be, follow the Knowl's...
SMART Goal checklist, and you'll be much more likely to reach it.