Don’t Settle for STUPID Goals

Smart people don’t settle for stupid goals.

Their goals are SMART.

What is a SMART goal? It is:

Specific

Measurable

Action Oriented

Realistic

Time-bound

Goal setting has completely changed my life. It can change yours too.

Goal setting has given me the freedom to create a plan for my life, as opposed to just reacting to whatever happens to me. The habit of daily reviewing my goals helps me stay on track. By writing down my goals, I’m committing to achieving them. Getting a goal out of my head, and onto paper is essential.

Commit to goals. Write them down. Review them every day.

Goal setting takes the guesswork out of things. It gives you power to aim for what you really want in your life, and create a framework of how to get there.

You’re in control. You create the plan. You take action.

Why review goals every day?

Reviewing your written goals every day doesn’t mean that your goals will change each day. It does mean that you will revisit and renew your focus daily. If this seems too frequent, then commit to reviewing your goals on a weekly basis. Schedule the same day each week, and stick to the schedule.

Your dreams are worth it!

In addition to being SMART, goals are best when they are positive. For example, a goal could be “eat fresh meals, prepared at home five nights a week,” instead of “don’t eat fried foods.” Talking positively to yourself is important and it focuses on what you can do, instead of what you can’t.

When setting goals, it’s best to make your goals action-oriented and process-related. Instead of saying, “earn more money,” the goal could be “schedule two appointments with current clients each day.” In this case you are focusing on the process, on the steps you will take—and not the end result. By focusing on the process, the results will come much faster.

For a goal to be effective, it must have a completion date. This is part of being measurable, and serves as a-call-to-action. If you’re going to run your first 5k race, you better get off the couch, and follow a time-based plan for training.

What gets measured gets done!

Your goals need to be meaningful and in-line with your purpose in life, not someone else’s. Knowing your vision for your life is critical. It is important to dig deep and understand your dreams, but also recognized that they can change over time.

If you need help finding your purpose, start today. Your life is filled with possibility. We were all created for a purpose. If you don’t already have one, purchase a journal. Start small, but take action. Write every day. Dream and set some goals.

You can do this.

I have written a book, From Autopilot to Authentic, and reading this might be a place for you to start.

If you don’t already know your purpose in life, I encourage you to find it. Schedule time alone this week with your journal and write down some of the activities that bring you joy, peace and purpose.

By understanding your purpose, you will be able to set goals that make sense for your life. Your life is powerful and full of possibility. It’s never too late.

As we grow, we change and develop. This is almost magical and is part of what keeps life exciting and challenging at the same time. Each stage of life is filled with wonder and opportunity.

I wish you joy today and tomorrow and every day along the journey of life.

And remember, smart people don’t set stupid goals.

Cheers!

Coach Brett Blair