Changing bad habits is one of the hardest things a person can do. So why is it that so many people think that it’s just going to happen overnight? Think about it — eating too much, smoking, not sleeping enough, spending too much money, and the like are not something that will just instantly be remedied in most cases. I can say this first hand, since these are all problems that I deal with (or have dealt with in the past). The funny thing is that all of these obstacles can be demolished, but it takes time and persistence…and you have to make a decision to succeed.
If you’ve spent any time reading about business or pretty much anything related to goals, then you’ve probably heard of SMART goal setting criteria.
Here’s are a few examples of some goals that a person might set:
- “I want to lose weight.”
- “I want to make more money.”
- “I want to work for myself.”
Great! At least you have a vision, but these aren’t SMART goals.
What are SMART goals?
The SMART acronym stands for specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time bound. Together, these attributes can be used when creating goals to make what is referred to as a SMART goal.
Now let’s look at the same goals, but with the SMART criteria taken into consideration:
- “I want to lose 20 lbs. by the end of March.”
- “I want to raise my income from $1,750 to $2,500 per month by the end of 2014 using passive income strategies.”
- “I want to be able to leave my job and start my own business within the next two years buy building passive income.”
Of course, some of these may sound strange, but goals are really just statements of something you want to achieve. Setting SMART goals can help tremendously when it comes to reaching your goals.
What does SMART stand for?
Are your goals specific? Do you even know what you want?
Are your goals measurable? Can you see that you are progressing towards your goals?
Are your goals actionable? Can you even figure out how to do what you want to do?
Are your goals realistic? You’re probably not going to make $50,000 this month with your blog, are you? What can you reasonably do?
Are your goals time bound? Do you have a deadline for reaching your goals?
Sudden change really, really sucks. Gradual change is easy. Set your smart goals, make an action plan, and start changing your life.
If you want to learn more about setting goals, check out some of these books/ebooks:
SMART Goals – The Secret of Achieving Anything You Want in Life
How To Set Goals: Ultimate Goal Setting Guide to Having Your Best Year Ever
How To Set SMART Goals – The Ultimate Guide To Creating The Life You Want (The Road To Happiness)
