Be SMART About Setting Goals

You can attain most any goal you set when you plan your steps wisely and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps. Goals that may have seemed far away and out of reach eventually move closer and become attainable, not because your goals shrink, but because you grow and expand to match them. When you list your goals you build your self-image. You see yourself as worthy of these goals, and develop the traits and personality that allow you to possess them.

Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals  

From Paul J. Meyer's "Attitude Is Everything." 

Specific - A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal.

To set a specific goal you must answer the six "W" questions: 

1. Who:      Who is involved? 
2. What:     What do I want to accomplish? 
3. Where:    Identify a location. 
4. When:     Establish a time frame. 
5. Which:    Identify requirements and constraints. 
6. Why:      Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal. 

Measurable - Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set. To determine if your goal is measurable, ask questions such as......How much? How many?  How will I know when it is accomplished? 

Attainable - When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them.

Realistic - To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work. A goal can be both high and realistic; you are the only one who can decide just how high your goal should be. Your goal is probably realistic if you truly believe that it can be accomplished. 

Time Bound - A goal must have a target date. If you desire to make a million dollars, but don't set the timeline for it, it won't be motivating. A deadline too far in the future is too easily put off. A goal that's set too close is not only unrealistic, it's discouraging.

Long Term Goals: long term goals are simply a description of what you want for yourself in the future -- say about 3 to 5 years out. The best way to define them is to give examples: graduate college, get a good job, find a life partner, get rich quick, etc... 

Short Term Goals:

What can I do 6 months from now?

What can I do 6 weeks from now?

What can I do today?