Part 3: The 'SMART' System for Setting Up Milestones for Your Success Journey

In my last blog, I talked about when you know where you stand, consider yourself ready to set waypoints for your success journey. And the "SMART" system will help you set small milestones when you are aiming for the big picture. 

Read More Here: What's Should be Your Next Approach after Setting Up a Goal

S - Specific

Milestones whether small or big, need to be formed very precisely. You have to be very specific about your goal. Are you trying to shed some extra pounds? Or learning an entirely new skill? Or you have just planned to overhaul your diet?

Now since you know your goals, you need to be more specific. For instance, are you going to fit as much as an athlete or just going to shed 10 pounds? 

M - Measurable 

You won't be able to track your fitness regimen or even follow it rigorously if you have no way to measure it on given time instances. Your milestones can be numeric in nature or be bound to a certain time and other measurable entities. That's entirely up to you.

It can be daily, weekly, or quarterly like finish reading a novel every 15 days. 

A - Achievable 

This is very crucial. If you don't set a milestone that is achievable, you are going to lose all the bubbling confidence and excitement probably as soon as you start. There's no way you can lose 20 pounds a week or gettings six-packs from a big tummy in just one month. If you set unrealistic goals, you won't be able to achieve them, and in the end, the clouds of depression will cover you up from head to toe. 

R - Relevant

If you are wanting to become the master of web-designing but one of your milestones is completing 10 grammar lessons, then you are either not honest about your goals or just creating trouble in your success journey. Milestones that are not relevant to the final goal, should be weeded out otherwise they will break your focus and slow you down. 

T - Time-Bounded

Milestones that are not time-bounded, give you mind a signal that its ok to avoid the hard work and have a nap to relax out. Loose milestones have the ability to turn you into a procrastinating person who is not better than a sloth. 

Many thanks in advanced my fellow readers to read this post about the SMART system. In the next two posts, I will cover the other significant points about making your success journey short and worthwhile. So, stay tuned. 

-Mohit