Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals

If you weren’t a business major or didn’t go to biz school, there’s a good chance you may never have seen this before. I don’t know how people set goals and plans of action without it though – I guess they just have big, lofty aspirations and no clue how to measure the results?

Criteria for SMART goals:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely

Here’s a great overview I found online from the Goal Setting Guide. It provides an in-depth breakdown of each (more than just the definition I’m including below).

Specific – Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.

Measurable – If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.

Attainable – When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true.

Realistic – This is not a synonym for “easy.” Realistic, in this case, means “do-able.”

Timely – Set a timeframe for the goal: for next week, in three months, by fifth grade. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.

Putting these 5 points to work in any goal-setting or planning project are a no-brainer for me.

A lot of people may ask, “Why include all of these variables into every component of my marketing or business plan?”

The answer is easy: SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY MAKE YOUR PLAN HAPPEN!

Plus, you’ll also know if the components of your plan were effective.

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