5 Steps To Achieving Your Goals

As the year comes to an end, it is imperative that you take time right now to plan and set your goals for the year ahead.

Ideally you had set goals for this prior year and have been evaluating and adjusting your plan along the way. But, don't worry, because if you haven't, then now is a great time to start. Don't you agree?

Using the timeless formula of SMART goals is a highly effective approach to 10x your success. This formula is simple, proven to work, and is effective for both long and short term goal setting.

SMART is an acronym which stands for Specific, Measurable, Actions, 5R's (Relevance, Realistic, Risk, Review, Revise) and Time Frame.

When setting your goals you want to use this framework to maximize the percentage of achieving your ultimate success. While the effort you put forth is going to determine your level of goal attainment, effort alone is not enough. How valuable is effort without a focused plan of action?

1. Specific: Goals must be specific. A broad goal such as, "I want to be healthier" is a worthy goal, but should be further refined. "I want to lose weight" is a bit more specific. Even more specific is, "I want to lose 5 pounds per quarter through exercise and a low-carb, high-protein diet". While there is no set rule, and your goals are your own, the more specific you make them, the more focused you will be on the
2. Measurable: Goals must be measurable through a data source. Remember, data can be numeric (quantitative) or non-numeric (qualitative). Losing 5 pounds per quarter, or about 20 pounds for the year would be a specific, quantitative measure of success. A less specific, but still effective piece of measurable qualitative data source may be your overall mood changes due to your exercise and health improvements. You then break that down to monthly and weekly mini-data points and sub-goals. Weight loss is a great example, because it can be daunting to not see results immediately. How many times have your barely seen a pound per week come off the scale and felt discouraged? Yet, over the weeks, months, quarterly and the annual review, you will see huge gains and ultimately meet your goal with success. Challenge yourself to dominate and blow it away.
3. Actions: Actionable goals with specific and supporting activities are essential to drive you to attain goal success. Sticking with weight loss, you could join a discount gym, walk 2 miles daily, ride your bike, start CrossFit, increase family activity time, attend Weight Watchers, join a Beach Body accountability group, or any other specific actions to support the goals. This is probably most important step - TAKING ACTION - deciding the activities will not be the most difficult of completing the goals, but going out and taking MASSIVE ACTION is the biggest challenge. But... will it stop YOU? Just thinking about it and looking at the plan won't yield any results except failure, but taking action will bring you success.

4. Relevance, Realistic, Risk, Review, Revise (SMARRRRRT goals?):

• Is the goal supported by specificity, data sources, and activities that are relevant to the overarching needs of your life? Are they relevant to one another?
• Are the goals realistic? Do you have the required skill sets or resources needed to carry out the activities you have planned?
• While the goal needs to be realistic there needs to be an element of risk. There is 'magic in thinking big'. Can anyone achieve the goal you have set for yourself? Is it within your comfort zone? You need to have a degree of difficulty and set huge goals for yourself that place you on the edge, or slightly outside of your comfort zone.
• It is essential to review your goals as often as daily, or at a minimum, weekly. While daily review may not be totally necessary, the more often you review your goals, the more your daily actions will continue to support the achievement of your goals, the more your subconscious will be programmed support these efforts (topic for another post), and the more aware you will make others of your goals increasing your accountability.
• Revisions to your goals will take place as you may make progress and even achieve goals earlier than expected. Revisions are just as important when things unfold and you may have to adjust for longer time frames. As goals are accomplished, the energy can be refocused on other goals or you can revise your goals to take it further (greater weight loss, increased # of sales, more date nights with your spouse, etc.)

5. Time frames are like glue that keeps each goal's plan together. Some goals may begin in succession after others are achieved. Having time frames for each goal makes adjusting during the review and revision process much easier.

Using SMART goal planning is a simple and proven method to getting all that you want out of your life. Don't hesitate! Start using these steps to plan now...

Doesn't it seem so easy? Despite following this simple SMART formula, many people fail to such a simple step to plan ahead and move toward greatness. Don't be one of them.

The New Year is just ahead. Implement this now, because even if you don't... your competition is.