We have so many goals. Goals for our businesses, our marketing, our clients, and our personal growth. And from sun up to sun down we work hard. Hours, days, even months and years fly by and even though it seems that we never stop, it isn’t always easy to see exactly what we’ve accomplished.
We set goals like grow our list, generate more income and find more balance, all of which are worthy goals. However, without some critical details, these goals are elusive and short-lived.
Instead, you can follow this framework to set SMART goals. Essentially, every goal should be:
S – Specific – Create a goal that is clear and unambiguous.
What specific goal is on your heart? Avoid being vague as you define what your goals are. By getting into the habit of being more specific with what you want to achieve, you’ll be able to better focus on how you’re going to achieve it.
For example, rather than saying “I want financial freedom”, be more specific by saying “I will create financial freedom by generating $x per month”.
M – Measurable – Include criteria for measuring progress.
Your goals must be measurable. If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Determine key metrics that you can use to track and monitor your progress.
If you wanted to engage with your ideal audience on social media more often, you could have a weekly tracking sheet where you track how many times you engage per week on each social network.
A – Achievable – Develop a goal that is realistic.
Make sure your goals are achievable. You should set yourself up for victory by setting goals that you can reach within your limits of time, talents, budget, etc.
If you set a goal to get 10,000 new email subscribers in one month, that may not be realistic. When you don’t meet this goal you might lose motivation and give up on your quest to increase your list size. So, rather than setting a goal that will discourage you if you don’t achieve it, set a goal you feel confident you can achieve.
R – Relevant – Make sure the goal will make a difference in your business and aligns with your vision.
Whose goal is this? Why is this goal important? Are you setting a goal because someone else thinks it’s important, or because it seems like a good goal to set? If it isn’t a goal that will bring YOU joy, then it’s not relevant to your overall purpose, passion and vision.
For example, if you decide to write a book after another business owner launches a book, that may have nothing to do with your vision for your business. And although you may really like the idea, you have to ask if it is necessary to realize your vision.
T – Time-bound – Set a target date and create a sense of urgency.
Every goal needs a deadline so you stay focused. It will ensure that you don’t get distracted by other priorities and procrastinate. Do you want to achieve your goal in one week, one month or one year? Set milestones so that you can keep yourself on track.
If your goal is to launch a new group program, you may set a due date of 4 months from now, and then set milestones along the way.
Putting It All Together
Here are some examples of how to take a vague goal and using the framework above, transform it into a SMART goal.
Vague Goal: I will increase my business revenue.
SMART Goal: I will generate an additional $20,000+ in revenue by launching a new group program.
Vague Goal: I want to create more work/life balance.
SMART Goal: I will set a consistent work schedule of Monday-Friday from 9-5pm.
Vague Goal: I want to better understand my ideal client.
SMART Goal: I will interview 10 ideal clients by the end of the month.