Setting SMART Goals - What it means and how to do it

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Jegz
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Location: Naija
 

September 9th, 2018, 3:37 pm

What does it mean to set SMART goals? How can you achieve this? Today I will focus on answering those two questions satisfactorily. But first, let's share the meanings of some keywords: Goal, SMART, Achieve.
goal-setting.jpg

GOAL
What is a goal?
Goal (n): The aim, object or purpose toward which an endeavor is directed. It is what you want to achieve from any course of action or process or decision you take.

Examples include a goal to obtain a BSc by attending a university; Marrying so as to have a companion, or children; Seeking employment so as to earn money. And so on.

Why must you have a goal?
On the importance of a clearly defined goal, think of every decision or endeavor in life as a journey. Think of it as a ship on the ocean on a journey. The goal is the destination.

Now you can imagine embarking on a journey without a specific pre-planned destination. The journey will eventually end and that end will put a destination to the journey. But if the destination was not clearly defined from onset, now you will agree that the final destination could end up being anywhere: same starting point, or a worse location, or rarely a better end.

Anything you embark on in life, set a clear goal - what you wish to achieve from it. The #goal (destination) will determine and dictate what direction to take! And you won't get lost.
smart goals.jpg
SMART
How can a goal be SMART?
Well, SMART is an acronym that spells out the requisite attributes of a goal so as to ensure it will or can be achieved.

Each letter spells out an attribute which must be characteristic of your set goal and will determine if its really a goal or a desire.

S - Specific
A goal that must be achieved has to be specific, clearly defined end. Think of it again as a journey. If you embark on it without a specific destination in mind - could be home, office, restaurant, friend's home - then we know it will amount to waste of time and resources. Could even be dangerous.

M - Measurable
A goal that will be achieved has to be measurable, quantifiable. This very single attribute will tell you if you have achieved your goal or not. In specific and absolute terms you must be able to measure both your goal and your progress towards its achievement.

At any point along the journey you should be able to measure how close or far you are to your destination or goal achievement.

A - Achievable, Actionable
This is a dual function acronym. A real goal cannot be impossible. It has to be possible. It has to be achievable.

For instance, you are uneducated, you don't have a dime and live in a ghetto in Nigeria but your goal is that in 24 hours you want to buy all the shares of GTBank off the Stock Market and become the major shareholder. Is that achievable? I say NO! A real goal has to be possible. In effect, set #goals you can achieve, that are possible.

Actionable goal will include action plans that dictate clearly the course of actions you will take to achieve it.

How about this: you are an unemployed graduate living with your parents in Oyo town. You just finished your NYSC but you don't have a CV lest submitting it anywhere for job application. And yet your goal is to get employed by P&G in two weeks while all you do in the meantime is to follow you mum to farm everyday.

What do you expect? Miracle?

R - Realistic, Relevant
This is also a dual role acronym.

A Realistic goal will be a sincere one and not out of this world. It won't be too difficult, neither will it be too easy.

A Relevant goal must add value and must be related to the devoted course of action or endeavor. In such manner the outcome will clearly glorify the devoted resources.

T - Timely, Time-based, Time-limit
This single attribute also will clearly determine by its presence or not if what you call your goal is really one or it's just a wish.

The time factor will clearly state when a deadline is and also be a major measure of progress and success (achieved) itself. To understand its importance, remember the journey illustration earlier.

You embark on a journey now, with clear destination - office. But if you fail to set a time limit to it, then its not a problem if you get to the office 2 days or months later. Get it?

The time factor will bring in a sense of urgency and spur you to utilise efficiently the limited resources - including especially time!

Also as a measure of progress, setting a time limit to your set goal will help you at any point in time to determine if you are progressing or not, by comparing your closeness to the final end with the time left (time consumed minus total time). With this fact, you will be able to determine what works and what doesn't. If a strategy is not working or not not efficient then you will know.

For instance, in your office you embark on a sales strategy that is expected to double your last year's earning before end of the new year. Now the time limit is end of current year. By mid-year, you must be able to take stocks and measure your progress, and realistically predict the future based on current trends of things and relevant indicators. If your findings compared with time spent do not make your goals achievable anymore, then its time to go back to the drawing board - before its too late.

Now imagine if your plan had been just to double your sales in the near future, even in 2 years time you could still be hoping! Get it?

In effect, always bring in the time factor to every goal you set. And as a sub-condition, let your time factor or limit be Realistic too. Let it be Reasonable - not too short, not too long.

A #SmartGoal is the goal that can be achieved. Do not forget. Always use this formula next time you set a goal. Ask the relevant questions and isolate the relevant factors as you embark on the journey. You would be happy you did.
achieve-goal.jpg
ACHIEVE
As it relates to goal setting, when can it be said that you have achieved your goal? At this time we will bring back in two major factors isolated above: Measurement and Time.

On or before the Time deadline if your Measurement of progress is 100% or more, then your goal is Achieved.

Parting Words
First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.
~ ARISTOTLE

Next time you are planning a journey - at your business, in your career, in your home - set SMART goals. Achieving these goals will be very satisfying.

Comments are encouraged. :w':

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"Many of us are not living our dreams simply because we are busy living our fears" - Les Brown
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eMade
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September 9th, 2018, 4:15 pm

Great article from the boss! :good:
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Abbeycity
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September 9th, 2018, 6:16 pm

Insightful article :clap:
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eMade
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September 9th, 2018, 6:52 pm

Abbeycity wrote:Insightful article :clap:
Please share on Facebook and Twitter. Its useful.
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Yinka
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September 9th, 2018, 7:24 pm

Great job,good work,welldone bro
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Jegz
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September 9th, 2018, 9:37 pm

Yinka wrote:Great job,good work,welldone bro
Thanks. :good:
"Many of us are not living our dreams simply because we are busy living our fears" - Les Brown
Abbeycity
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September 9th, 2018, 9:46 pm

eMade wrote:
Abbeycity wrote:Insightful article :clap:
Please share on Facebook and Twitter. Its useful.
Done
Discussyes is an online social forum where members interact freely on their desired topic of discussion.

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eMade
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September 10th, 2018, 5:47 am

Abbeycity wrote:Done
Thanks boss. :good:
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JPr
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September 12th, 2018, 9:51 pm

:clap: Great topic.
This is Bestnaija! We're here to stay!
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BASIT005
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October 27th, 2018, 8:09 am

nice write up bro. it inspired me a lot
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JPr
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October 29th, 2018, 2:11 am

Emmycool wrote:Wow I love that
:good: :good:
This is Bestnaija! We're here to stay!
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makavelli25
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April 20th, 2020, 6:33 am

Very important topic
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Pharooq01
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October 21st, 2020, 6:12 am

eMade wrote:
Abbeycity wrote:Insightful article :clap:
Please share on Facebook and Twitter. Its useful.
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Iam_gha
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November 2nd, 2020, 11:40 pm

I find this useful
impress yourself.
Alanpatrick
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November 2nd, 2020, 11:44 pm

Wonderful article as a youth this are the kinds of goals one needs to set
Frenardz
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March 17th, 2021, 9:14 pm

without goals life is a scaler quantity no direction
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Erudite
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Location: Naija
 

March 20th, 2021, 9:14 pm

Frenardz wrote:without goals life is a scaler quantity no direction
Iwe! Book! Physics dey hot!
:clap: :lol;
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TitanKenneth
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March 20th, 2021, 11:44 pm

:clap: :clap:
Follow me on facebook "Titan Kenneth".
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eMade
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March 21st, 2021, 5:46 am

Erudite wrote:
Frenardz wrote:without goals life is a scaler quantity no direction
Iwe! Book! Physics dey hot!
:clap: :lol;
So lol, with goals, life becomes VECTOR KWANTITI!
Mo fo! :good: :clap:
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TitanKenneth
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March 21st, 2021, 6:09 am

eMade wrote:
Erudite wrote:
Frenardz wrote:without goals life is a scaler quantity no direction
Iwe! Book! Physics dey hot!
:clap: :lol;
So lol, with goals, life becomes VECTOR KWANTITI!
Mo fo! :good: :clap:
True,yoruba princess :clap:
Follow me on facebook "Titan Kenneth".
https://mobile.facebook.com/profile.php ... speed_dial
Frenardz
Junior
 

March 21st, 2021, 8:35 pm

Life is like a football pitch you have to score a goal
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Sally
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Location: Kaduna
 

April 11th, 2021, 12:02 am

Nice
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