SMART Goals – Part 2

Last week I started discussing SMART goals. As a quick re-cap, taking the time up front to really plan and think out your goals will significantly improve your rate of success, regardless of the goal(s) you are hoping to achieve. The first two parts of planning your goal is to know exactly WHAT that goal is by being as specific as possible. Using the – who, what, why, where, when and how to flush out all the details. If you’re goal is vague, it will be difficult to do the subsequent steps. The next part of goal setting is determining how you would measure your rate of success and KNOW when you’ve attained your goal. This part of the goal is looking at the HOW TO of your goal. As an example, if weight loss is a goal how much weight or what dress size or how many inches do you want to lose and how do you plan to achieve this? Measuring your progress and success might mean a body composition analysis by a personal trainer, a weigh – in at the doctors or something similar as a baseline starting point. Then you will want to continue the measurements by the exact same methods and preferably by the same person.

This week we will continue to modify your goals by next determining if this goal is Achievable. Now it’s time to be honest with yourself. Is this goal truly attainable the way you have written it? If your goal is to complete a triathlon but you don’t know how to swim, this could be an added challenge. Striving to achieve something new will most likely require a change in lifestyle habits – are you willing to do that? Goals that are close to your heart and full of meaning will inspire you to commit to the changes and sacrifices you will most likely have to make. Goals that are too far out of reach or not that important will result in you losing the drive and determination after a while or when you hit some road bumps along the way.

Closely related to this but different, is ensuring your goals are Realistic. Basically, this is to ensure your goal is do-able. If it’s too difficult or too easy, it may not motivate you enough to want to work for it. You also want to look at the logistics of your goal. Losing 10 pounds in one week is NOT realistic (nor healthy). Signing up for a triathlon without knowing how to swim is not realistic, but a goal of learning to swim first and then setting a second goal of doing a triathlon IS more realistic. Do you have the means to reach your goal? Do you have the necessary funding, childcare or support, spousal support, knowledge, and time to go after your goal as you have planned it thus far? If not, you need to edit your goal in order to set yourself up for success before you even begin.

For this week, go back to your original goal and work on the achievable and realistic aspects of it. Next week we will complete our goal setting exercise and I’ll include a few other tips to send you on your way to victory.