Smart goal setting starts with learning not to set yourself up for failure. You can have all the ambition in the world however when your goals are not achievable, or otherwise beyond your reach, you probably won’t reach them. Now you know I believe in reaching for the stars… AND when you are first starting out it is best to aim for some intermediate milestones. You see, the danger in shooting to high when you are just beginning to grow your wings is you may get too discouraged and quite from being a consistent goal setter in the future. Let’s set you up for success now by following the 3 steps below.

1. Focus
The objectives you establish for yourself must be clearly defined and specific in order for you to put together a plan as to how you will accomplish them. Consider your goals a target – you can only hit what you can vividly see.

2.Reachable
It is very important that your first set of goals or milestones be far enough out of your reach to stretch you and yet still within sight. It should be attainable in regards to your particular skill sets and other available resources that may be required. The danger in setting goals that are not reachable is that the disappointment you experience may dissuade you from ever doing so again! Making an accurate and honest assessment of the ‘tools’ and resources you have to work with and how they measure up to what it is you want to achieve should be your first step.

3. Measurable
There must exist a means to determine your progress since if you are not seeing results your frustration levels will rise along with the temptation to quit. This helps you make adjustments, and also keeps you motivated as progress is being made. Remember that along with the ambition you may possess, your motivation is a huge factor in whether you will be successful at achieving what you have set out to accomplish. In addition, a time table needs to be established to help you better measure your progress!

Smart goals setting involves establishing objectives that are not only suitable for your skill sets but measurable as well. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be well on your way to achieving all your goals!

To your success,

Paul Finck