Want to successfully achieve your dream goals? Then make sure you’re using the SMART goal setting method.
The SMART Goal Setting method is a proven framework for turning ideas and dreams into real, tangible results. SMART is an acronym that stands for:
Specific: Your goal should be specific and clearly defined. You should also have concrete action steps for your goal.
Measurable: Your goal should have action steps that you can measure. For example: running for twenty minutes or writing 500 words or landing five new clients.
Attainable: If you’re lacking the resources or skills to realistically pursue your goal, you should be able to identify the things you’ll need to help you get closer to it.
Relevant: Your goal should be relevant to your genuine interests, curiosities, and needs. Are you excited about pursuing this goal? Or do you feel obligated to go for it? When your goal aligns with what you truly want, you’ll feel more motivated to achieve it.
Timebound: Your goal should have a definitive deadline. Otherwise, it’s easy to procrastinate on it. Example: I will write fifty pages of my manuscript by the end of the month or I will cold email three new clients by the end of the week.
Why you need the “A” in SMART Goals for your dream goal
All of these components of the SMART goal setting method are crucial for achieving success with your goals. And today we’re going to delve deeper into why the “A” in the SMART method is so important for your goals.
Just because your goal is big and lofty, doesn’t necessarily mean that you should abandon it. What may seem impossible today, may become possible with proper planning and preparation.
What matters when going after a big goal is making sure you’re setting yourself up for success. Give yourself every opportunity to help you get closer to that big goal.
Let’s discuss all the ways you can make your goal more attainable, so that you can turn your dreams into reality.
Ways to Make Your Goal More Attainable
As the saying goes: A goal without a plan is just a wish. So here are some steps you can take to plan your vision.
Identify the gaps between you and your goal
So you have a big, dream goal and you’re worried that it’s just a pipe dream. Before you write off your dream, take some time to assess the situation.
Ask yourself: How can I make this goal more attainable? More realistic? In other words…
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What’s standing in the way of my goal?
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What am I lacking? What do I need?
For example, let’s say you’ve always wanted to write a novel, but you worry that you lack any creative writing experience or don’t have the right connections.
Those may seem like intimidatingly large gaps at first, but remember: you have to start somewhere. In the next step we’ll show you to start closing the gap between you and your dream goal.
Identify the resources, skills, and tools you need
Now it’s time to start thinking about the ways you can bridge the gap between you and your goal.
When it comes to making your goals more attainable, you'll want to start by strengthening these three pillars:
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Skills/Knowledge: What skills do I need to learn? What competencies or traits should I develop? Examples: leadership skills, public speaking and communication, technical knowledge, etc.
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Resources: Where can I find help? This can be community resources, financial resources, books, advice, etc.
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Tools: What tools and supplies do I need to do my work? Maybe it’s computer software or art supplies or fitness gear.
Take some time to think about what you need to achieve your goal successfully. Think of all the specific ways that you can shore up your resources, build your skills, develop your knowledge, and get the tools you need. Sticking with the “writing a novel” example, you could do the following:
Skills and knowledge:
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Signing up for a short story writing class to learn the fundamentals
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Taking a novel writing class to build your knowledge
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Attending author talks and learning about their process
Resources:
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Reading newsletters about the publishing industry and “how to” books on writing
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Listening to writing podcasts
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Organizing a writers group
Tools/Supplies
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Carrying a notebook for your observations and brainstorming
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Having a workspace that is conducive to writing
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Having the necessary software to write your drafts
By simply making a list of the skills, resources, and tools you’ll need, you are now turning a pipe dream into something much more attainable and realistic.
Create milestones for your dream goal
Another way to make your dream goal more attainable is to set little milestones along the way. This is because some goals, like lowering your cholesterol or training for a marathon, take up to a year or even several years to achieve. So it’s a good idea to set little milestones along the way to help you sustain your interest and motivation.
Examples:
If your goal is to lower your cholesterol, then set regular milestones, such as eating veggies with every meal for a day. Or going for an hour-long walk everyday.
If your goal is to run a marathon, then milestones can be: being able to run for thirty minutes without stopping or successfully running a 5K.
If your goal is to launch a side hustle, then milestones can be: getting your first client or earning your first paycheck or getting twenty regular customers.
And make sure to celebrate your wins, big and small. This way, you’ll get the dopamine effect of having achieved something, without having to wait years before you finally get to celebrate.
So recognize all the hard work and effort you’ve been putting in, and congratulate yourself on all the progress you’re making along the way.
By creating a plan for your vision and making your goal more attainable, you will set yourself up for success.
Written by JiJi Lee