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This is Episode 49, SMART Goals And Mistakes To Avoid. In this episode, I provide a technique to use when setting your goals. It is important to properly set goals so they work. In contrast, I talk about mistakes to avoid when setting your goals.
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Setting SMART Goals And Avoiding Mistakes
In December, I wrote a post wrapping up 2020 and getting ready for 2021. Last week di a podcast about five things to change in 2021. Today is a great time to ask yourself, “Am I where I thought I would be this time last year?” If your answer is, “No,” then now is a great time to see what went wrong. Think about where you want to be a year from now and what you want to accomplish. Today is the time to start setting goals for the next year and beyond.
I’ve written a few posts about goals and as always, I like to keep things simple. Goals are simply something that you want. Think about what you want, write it down, put a date on it, and that’s a goal. They’re your roadmap that will keep you on track and get you to your destination.
Mistakes To Avoid
Many people have goals but never accomplish them. There are several reasons for failing to accomplish what you set out to do. Firstly, you fail because you don’t commit to achieving your goals. Secondly, you don’t have a good plan. Third, you don’t put in the work. There is nothing free in this world, you must put in the work. Fourth, you don’t know how to properly set goals.
One of the mistakes you make when setting goals is your goals are too general. They don’t have an end date for them. Your goals can’t be measured so you cannot tell if you’re on track. One of the biggest mistakes is they didn’t write them down. An example of a poorly designed goal is, “I have a goal to read more next year.” This is too general; it is not specified what you will read or how much.
SMART
One of the techniques I talk about in my course, Setting Goals That Work, is using the acronym SMART. In conducting research I found that some people like using this approach and others don’t. I believe there is no one cure for everything. Find what works for you and use it.
- S – Specific
- M – Measurable
- A – Achievable
- R – Relevant
- T – Time Bounded
Using the example above, a properly set goal will read like this, “I will read 24 Self-Improvement books by 12/31/2021.
- Specific – It Specifies exactly what you’re going to read, Self-Improvement books.
- Measurable – You’re going to read 24 books.
- Achievable – If every book averages 400 pages then you would need to read 27 pages per day. This is very achievable.
- Relevant – If you are looking for self-improvement then this is a relevant goal.
- Time Bounded – There is an end date, 12/31/2021 attached to the goal.
Break Them Down
You can also break this yearly goal into smaller goals. Write down how many books you would want to read every month. Set a weekly goal of how many pages or chapters you will read. Also, set daily goals of reading for a specific time or number of pages. This will keep you on track and you will be able to see how you are progressing toward your yearly goal.
This SMART technique can be utilized in setting different types of goals. I always set three types of goals, personal, business, and relationship. You can set goals for wealth building, your health, and improving your relationships.
Develop A Plan
Once your goals are set, the next step is to develop a plan to achieve your goals. Set up a time frame of when you want to check your progress and analyze your plan. If you find yourself off-track and not making the progress you expected, change your plan but never change your goal. I hope you enjoyed this latest episode of my podcast and learned about SMART goals and mistakes to avoid.
If anyone has any tips or techniques on setting goals or stories on how goals have worked for you, I would love to hear them in the comments section. Don’t forget to like, follow, and join our team by subscribing to the email list.