How to Set SMART Goals and Reach Them in Record Time

Setting Your Eye on the Bulls Eye

The alarm rings, you wake up. You turn off the alarm and begin the series of morning rituals that would get you showered, dressed, fed with breakfast, and eventually on your way to the office. You kiss your wife on the cheek as she prepares herself for work and taking the kids to school. You say your goodbyes.

As you take your vehicle from the driveway, you become aware that all is quiet in the early dawn. You like to leave for work early to avoid the hideous traffic. The trip is uneventful and the radio blares out music you have no fondness for.

As you arrive for work, you check your emails, and start work with a cup of hot coffee. Lunch comes and goes. You think about saving enough to run a small business in a few years. You have told yourself the same thing for three years now.

What’s wrong with this picture? Are you one of them? Does the same boring day pass by one after the other until you realize you’re thirty-five with little time left?

Don’t let this happen. Start setting goals with a timeline. Set goals by the SMART method.

The SMART method of setting goals has been around for a long time and has been used by lots of successful people. It is one of the many tools used by executives to hit their goals realistically and consistently with enough room to adjust to unforeseen circumstances.

Setting goals is a mind game that needs to be revisited as often as possible. This is to establish the goal consistently in your mind. Eventually, you will have no need to be reminded on the goals you set for yourself.

SMART is an acronym for the following bywords:

Specific.

The goal has to be as detailed as possible. This is to reduce the time to think about what your goal is. This must answer the basic questions of Who, What, When, Where, Which and Why.

The more specific the goal, the more the end result can be envisioned by the goal setter. This comes together into the sports theory that an athlete can see the goal before it is attained through training. Studies have affirmed that visualization helps immensely in the attainments of a desired goal.

Measurable.

When setting goals, it is must also be specific that progress can be held up against a measure, or a benchmark. In bodybuilding, it is measurable to state that the goal is to bench press a weight of 200 pounds in two months time.

The old adage states that if “it can be measured, it can be attained” is also a known fact among athletes. Athletes keep a record of their performance on and off the field of contest in order to have something to compare against. They even measure other athletes in different sports to improve their understanding.

Attainable.

This is a part where you determine the will to reach your goals. Do you think the goal is attainable? Will it help you fulfill your overall goal? The more specific a goal is, the more you can find ways of reaching your target. You develop and educate yourself on reaching those goals.

Realistic.

Does it make logical sense? Getting to Mars and back within 20 days is a goal, but with the resources, you have, is it realistic? Will it take a huge effort to achieve the objective? You must be willing and especially able to achieve your goal. It is still realistic to aim high. It has to do with the rewards received, or the way the goal moves you forward. If you do not possess the skills or inclination to reach the goal, then the goals is unrealistic. No amount of motivation can get a man to do what he despises.

Time-bound.

This is the most important of all. A goal has to have a deadline. This is to prevent the goal setter from letting his goal slide from one day to the next. The true price paid for goals is the time you give the goal.

Remember this, time is the true price paid for your dreams, the earlier the dream can be achieved, the more time you have to enjoy it.

Don’t let other people rob you of your goals, use the SMART method and share it with others so you can help each other reach your goals.

This is part thirteen of 15 (yes, fifteen!) posts about The Ultimate Guide to Improving Your Self-Confidence, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking this link to receive free updates (not to mention a FREE E-Book!).

Part I: The Shocking Truth About Self-Confidence
Part II: 5 Little-Known Factors That Could Affect Your Confidence
Part III: 5 Surprising Characteristics of Someone Who Fears Rejection
Part IV: How to Cope With the Fear of Losing Your Loved One
Part V: How to Overcome the Fear of Failure
Part VI: Warning: Do Not Let Your Shyness Overpower You
Part VII: The Minimalist Guide to Good Posture
Part VIII: Secrets of Supermodels: How to Walk with Confidence
Part IX: 8 Steps to a Proper Handshake
Part X: How to Improve Self-Confidence through Eye Contact
Part XI: How to Utilize Self-talk and Develop Your Self Confidence in 7 Minutes
Part XII: Can’t Keep Up? 5 Ways to Simplify Your Attitude Towards Life

To our success in all areas of life,
Argel Tiburcio
I’m on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/argeltiburcio

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Argel Tiburcio

Founder and CEO at ArgelTiburcio.com

When he is not busy watching "The Office", lounging at the beach, or playing 1st person shooting games, Argel consistently invests in the stock market, both local and global. He loves learning through books, training, seminars, and workshops. He also helps Pinoys create, manage, grow, and protect their wealth as a globally-certified Professional Financial Advisor. Get in touch with him by sending an email to contact[at]argeltiburcio.com