Setting SMART Goals for 2011

I never used to believe in "setting goals", as I've always been very spontaneous and driven so it seemed pointless to me to sit down and physically write out the things I hoped to accomplish. All of that changed after I became a business owner. After losing focus and getting off track one too many times, I've learned that creating a roadmap is the only sure way to achieve my goals. I've tried all kinds of "systems" and even software programs to stay on track, but have learned sometimes something as simple as a pen and notebook makes a huge difference in visually charting the direction I need to travel.

A useful way of making goals more powerful is to use the SMART method. While there are plenty of variants, SMART generally stands for:

• S Specific - Ensure the goals you set are very specific, clear and easy. Instead of setting a goal to lose weight or be healthier, set a specific goal to run 3 miles at an aerobically challenging pace 5 days per week.
• M Measurable - Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur. How will you know when you have reached your goal? Be specific! “I want to create 3 new product formulas before Valentine's Day.” shows the specific target to be measure.
• A Attainable - A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and it will need a real commitment from you. For instance, if you aim to volunteer 52 hours of time to a cause this month, we know that isn’t easily achievable. But setting a goal to volunteer one hour per week for a year and when you’ve achieved that, aiming to volunteer additional time, will keep it achievable for you.
• R Relevant - Devise a plan or a way of getting there which makes the goal realistic. The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you are at the moment. A goal of never again eating meat may not be realistic for someone who really enjoys it. It may be more realistic to set a goal of having one meat-free day each week. You can then choose to work towards reducing the amount of meat in the diet gradually when this feels realistic for you.
• T Time-bond - If you don’t set a time for your goal to come due, the commitment is too vague. It tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there’s no urgency to start taking action now.

I have found that goal setting is an important method of:

• Deciding what is important for you to achieve in life.
• Separating what is important from what is irrelevant, or a distraction.
• Motivating yourself.
• Building your self-confidence, based on successful achievement of goals.

For additional tips on goal setting as well as tools to help you set your goals, check out Mind Tools online. If you find it easier to fill out a worksheet, there are several free sources online to give you an idea of where to start.

What Goals are you setting for 2011? What methods do you use to keep track of your goals?

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com