SMARTER

When writing your goal be sure to use the S.M.A.R.T.E.R. structure. I learned this from the Full Focus Co. folks in my certification as a Full Focus Planner Pro.

S stands for Specific. By specific I mean it must be so tangible and detailed that you know exactly what action to take. It cannot be vague and susceptible to misinterpretation. For example: “I’d like to write a book.” (We will use this goal of mine to illustrate the following points).

M stands for Measurable. Write the goal in such a way that its completion can be measured as a percentage. For example, “I will write for one hour or 5,000 words a day, five days a week.” Not “I will start writing during the work week.” Then if you write for three days, you will be able to calculate a percentage=measurable.

A stands for Actionable. Your goal should involk a clear action image that you can execute on. “I will schedule time for writing at least one hour a day. And, I will write during that time.”

R stands for Risky. In order to remain inspired about our goals they must involve some element of risk. Something that will naturally happen in the course of your life is not a worthy goal. Risky goals challenge our limiting beliefs. Although I currently write every day, I don’t believe myself to be an author or one capable of publishing a book. My limiting belief is: “I can’t become a published author because my ‘journaling’ doesn’t count as ‘real’ writing or make me in the same class with those who author books.”

E stands for Exciting. Again, to remain motivated and inspired to achieve our biggest goals, we must find them, not only risky, but exciting! Discipline alone cannot get us over the finish line with our most ambitious goals. We must have at least two powerful and exciting reasons that we want to achieve them. We also must write down these reasons and review them at least once a week to maintain our momentum in the “messy middle,” where goal achievement is at its most challenging. Reason # 1: “Becoming a published author will open doors of opportunity for me as a keynote speaker like no other achievement can.”

Reason # 2: “It has always been a goal/dream of mine to have being a published author as part of my identity. It is a major tenenant of who I want to become.”

R stands for Relevant. For a goal to truly be within our reach and realistic, it must be relevant to the stage of life that we are currently in. Trying to be a published author when you are in the early stages of motherhood with a nursing baby and a toddler, would not be a realistic goal. Children this young demand too much of our time and energy to have enough creativity left for the demands of writing. Also, the schedule one keeps in that phase of life, usually does not allow for extended periods of concentration and focus needed to produce the volume of well-edited content required for manuscript production. “However, now as an empty nester, I have ample time to focus on writing a book.”

5 Success Steps

According to Forbes, nearly 80% of people admit to abandoning their New Year’s resolutions by February and 91% fail to achieve them. Why? There are many reasons. Consider these 5 prescribed steps I learned from Michael Hyatt that will greatly increase the odds that you WON’T BE IN THAT MAJORITY.

1) DETERMINE YOUR GOAL - In order to achieve the life you desire you must know what direction you are heading. The only way to get this clear in your mind is to WRITE IT DOWN. Make sure you write your goal in a way that is specific enough to measure. (See SMARTER structure above). Then you will be able to guage your progress as you move forward.

2) LIST YOUR REASONS - Why is this goal important to you. Make a definite list of reasons you want to achieve this goal. If these reasons feel like they are NOT your own, but are instead something you feel others/society/friends etc. feel you SHOULD do. This is probably not a good goal for you to pursue. This listing of reasons process is a good way to vet your true motivation for pursuing a goal in the first place. If you don’t have a strong, intrinsic, motive to pursue the goal, it is unlikely you will have the stamina to persist through the “messy middle” when it is easy to quit.

3) IDENTIFY LIKELY OBSTACLES - If your goal is challenging and risky (see about explanations) then it won’t be something that just comes to you without overcoming some obstacles. Something has kept it from being realized in your life so far, right? So, be smart and identifiy (in WRITING, OF COURSE) likely obstacle to the goal AND a STRATEGY/PLAN* for overcoming these obstacles.

*Also known as ACTION PLANS

4) DEVELOP NEW BEHAVIORS - This is the most important step. Remember the old adage about the definition of insanity (Doing the same thing and expecting different results). For change to happen, action must take place that is different from that which has been previously happening. Focusing on what NOT to do is NOT the answer. To achieve NEW RESULTS you must institute NEW BEHAVIORS that will bring about those results. Clearly list what these new, positive behaviors will be and how often, when, where they will happen. The more specific you are the more likely you are to implement them. Also, being specific makes assessing your progress much easier. Are you actually ____ _____ 5 times a week? Knowing what, how often, when, where makes it easier to do and easier to evaluate. BE SPECIFIC.

5) STAY FOCUSED - Read your goals to your self every day. Give your self a grade on your progress once a week. Make tweaks to the plan as needed. Remember perfection is the enemy of progress. You don’t need to be perfect in the pursuit of the goal, you just need to make CONSISTENT PROGRESS. Small steps every day will take you much farther than one giant step. Simon Sinek explains it HERE.

REMEMBER YOU CAN NEVER FAIL AT ANYTHING UNTIL YOU QUIT. JUST ASK THOMAS EDISON OR ABRAHAM LINCOLN - THEY BOTH REFUSED TO QUIT AND WE NOW ONLY REMEMBER THEM FOR THEIR AMAZING SUCCESS!