• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Speaking/Writing
    • Media
  • Videos
  • Contact

Gindi Vincent

The Dish on Career, Fashion, Faith, and Family

Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals

September 30, 2014 by Gindi Leave a Comment

smart

It seems like everywhere I turn lately I’m encountering this little S.M.A.R.T. recommendation.

Health consultants.  Business development coaches.  It’s been reasserting itself all over in articles and speeches.

But it’s not a new concept.  It’s been around for decades.

And normally I’m not a fan of bit sized wisdom packaged in catchy acronyms.

However…sometimes catchy acronyms can serve a purpose.

I’m a big fan of writing (gasp, I know you’re shocked – a blogger who likes to write!).  Writing down specific goals for yourself really does help achieve them.  Sometimes, writing them down helps crystalize what it is you’re trying to achieve.  Sometimes, writing them down makes you more committed.  Sometimes, writing them down helps you see the gaps or missing steps.  In any event, this is a simple way to outline your next steps whether they focus on leadership, career development, or personal improvement opportunities.

I want to lose 40 pounds in two months or I want to double my salary may be specific goals but they aren’t particularly achievable or realistic.  I want to lose weight or increase my salary may be achievable goals but they aren’t specific or measurable.

What are you looking to achieve?  Do you want to serve as the project lead at your company?  Then, what’s a reasonable time for that to occur?  Within 12 months?  If so, what do you need to do to achieve that goal between now and then.  Be specific.  Set intervening milestones.  Make sure that, if you really work at it, you could achieve those milestones so you don’t get unnecessarily discouraged.

Write down some S.M.A.R.T. goals and run them by a mentor or friend.  Seek input in refining them in order to maximize your opportunity for success.  Then calendar time each week to benchmark your success or change your course if the intervening steps aren’t moving you closer to your goal.  And don’t forget to share your results with friends to encourage them to act too!

Filed Under: Leadership Tagged With: s.m.a.r.t.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

        

Welcome

Come on in. I have a reservation just for you. I know life is busy. I would love for us to step out for a relaxing lunch but schedules don't always allow. So let's pop open that salad or sandwich sitting in front of our computers, and we'll have lunch right here. A few minutes is all we need to connect to community.

Read More

Subscribe by Email

Latest Tweets

Tweets by @JustGindi

What’s on the Menu

  • Bible Studies
  • Dreams
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Fashion Fridays
  • Flashback Fridays
  • Leadership
  • Marriage
  • Our Story
  • Random
  • Recipes
  • Sister Stories
  • Women
  • Wordless Wed

Archives

Copyright © 2012-2019 Gindi Vincent · All rights reserved. · Site by Design by Insight