How to Set Goals and Achieve Them With Success
Before we learn how to set goals, It’s important to discover what we really want. For example, Julie discovered that she was chasing the wrong dream. She thought her dream was to buy a new home and renovate it. But when she actually moved in, she found she’d lost her interest. She realized that it was the renovation that had been most exciting for her and she realized interior design which was her true goal. Reflect well on your dreams and desires to discover your true goals.
To set goals we are going to use the S.M.A.R.T goal setting method, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound, it is an effective process for setting and achieving your goals.
“One of the amazing things we have been given as humans is the unquenchable desire to have dreams of a better life, and the ability to establish goals to live out those dreams.” – Jim Rohn
| S | Specific Set your goals as one specific desire. For example, saying that you want to be a good writer is vague. Saying that you want to be a best-selling author of a fantasy novel is more specific Ask Yourself: • What do I want to accomplish? •What exactly are you going to achieve? | My goal is to……………. |
| M | Measurable To prevent procrastination, think in terms of a specific number. e.g. “I will write one chapter per month or six pages per week.” Ask Yourself: • How will you track your progress? •How will you know you have met your goal? | I will track the progress of my goal by ……………… |
| A | Attainable Reach for goals that are suited to your abilities and circumstances. Ask Yourself: •Do you have the skills and abilities to achieve your goal? •What do you need to do? •What resources do you need? | My goal is attainable because I can……….. |
| R | Relevant If you want to stay motivated, determine your goals for yourself, instead of letting others decide how you should live your life. Ask Yourself: •Why is achieving your goal important to you? •How is it meaningful? | Achieving this goal is important to me because………. |
| T | Time-bound Setting a deadline for your goals is essential. Determine how long it will take to achieve a lifetime goal, then decide how much you’ll achieve in shorter time periods. Ask Yourself: •How much time do I have to achieve my goal? •When do you want your goal to be met? •When do you expect to start seeing results? | My goal will be achieved by………………… |
Smart Goals Example (How To Set Goals)
Goal to achieve: Write a novel
Specific: I will write a fantasy novel for young adults that is a minimum of 300 pages.
Measurable: I will write one chapter per month or six pages per week.
Attainable: I will work on the manuscript first, and once that is completed, I will begin to search for a publisher or explore crowdfunding for writers and self-publishing.
Relevant: Writing a fantasy novel will help me get my idea out in the world and establish myself as an author.
Time-Bound: My manuscript will be completed and ready to be published in 12 months.
Resources and Tools:
Goal Setting: A Scientific Guide to Setting and Achieving Goals
It’s Time To Set Your Goals
Use our Goal Setting Workbook to write, set and achieve your goals. Click the link below Set Goals Today!
