Goals should be clear, simple and in writing.
If they're not written down and reviewed daily, they're not really goals. They're wishes.
Robert T. Kiyosaki
Turn your dreams into reality by setting goals.
It sounds almost magical, but it's real.
Whether you're thinking about short-term goals or long-term aspirations and dreams, your chances of achieving them will depend on your ability to define them. This applies to both your professional and personal life.
If dreaming allows us to go beyond self-imposed limits, it's also critical to clarify our values, as they will guide our actions, and these will guide our true priorities. Whether we realize it or not, what we truly value ultimately defines what we do with our time, our energy, and even our money.
If your goals are consistent with what you consider important, you'll find more inner energy to stick to them.
The problem with dreams is that they often remain just that. Grand aspirations that never materialize. To make them a reality, they need to be transformed into one or more smaller, more manageable goals.
Goals and objectives should be written in a measurable way. They should be reasonable and part of a larger plan, which also has defined time frames.
Smart Goals
How to achieve your goals
Here's a big secret: goals, no matter how big, are much easier to achieve if they're broken down into manageable tasks that allow for a little progress each day.
Mark Twain explained it clearly when he said:
“The secret to getting ahead is getting started. The secret to getting started is breaking down your complex and overwhelming tasks into smaller, manageable tasks and then starting on the first one.”
The only way to achieve goals is to define them intelligently. We'll use the acronym SMART as a mnemonic.
For a goal to be intelligently defined, it must be:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
TO = Achievable
R = Relevant
T = Time Bounded
Objectives – Goals – SMART Goals
What do you want to achieve? What is your dream? What are the overall goals of the company you work for?
An objective is a means to achieve a larger dream or goal. It will be well-defined if it's a written statement that meets the SMART criteria.
Specific – Specific
What do you want to do, or achieve?
Detail your objective as much as possible. Write it so that there's no room for doubt. Make it so that anyone can understand it. Give it a single focus.
The path to achieving great goals must be composed of short- and medium-term objectives.
Measurable – Measurable
What criteria will you use to determine whether the objectives have been achieved?
Define the exact amount you want to achieve. The unit of measurement will depend on the objective: dollars, ROI (Return on Investment), tons, units, etc.
Achievable – Reachable
Do you have all the necessary resources to achieve this goal? Do you have the necessary skills in this area? Are all those who need to contribute or make decisions involved? Can you dedicate the necessary time to it?
The “A” also means written agreement (Agreed upon in writing), because the objectives must be written and visible.
Relevant – Relevant
How does this connect to your long-term goals?
Every goal must be connected to a larger purpose. This gives it meaning and prevents it from becoming just another task "to do." Without a solid "why," you'll always look for an easier way out, an easier "how."
Time Based – Limited in time
What is the timeframe for achieving this goal?
Determine when you will start and finish. Commit to meeting the deadlines by which you will implement certain steps. Set aside a specific time to work on your goal.
By setting a timeframe and defining a deadline, you avoid procrastination and putting things off until later. It also provides a sense of urgency.
Make an Action Plan
Since the simplest and most effective way is to break down goals or objectives into their smallest steps, it's always a good idea to create an action plan that includes all the intermediate steps that will ensure you achieve your goals.
Define and categorize the steps by opening them up as much as possible. Generally, a step is something that can be completed in one day. A step is not the same as a Milestone that a Passed.
For example:
The goal for 2020 is to create 100 One Point Lessons – LUPs
He aim for the month of August is to create 20 LUPs.
Reaching 20 LUPs is a milestone. Creating 2 LUPs every day is a passed.
A plan contains the specific steps, written down, that will take you from where you are to where you want to go, in the agreed-upon time.
Knowing where we are and where we want to go, the Plan describes how to move forward each day. Having this daily to-do list, also called the To Do List (THD), will be key.
You can create your plan in two ways: from today onward, or from your goal and backward. This is also known as Reverse Planning.
Continuing with the example: Let's imagine that we've reached the deadline: What did I have to do to finish the month of August with the 20 LUPs made?
Take some time to list all the steps. It's impossible to plan the next five years of your life in 30 minutes.
Don't worry if you don't know all the steps. A plan is a working document. Think "firm" but "flexible." "Firm" because you're sticking to a plan. "Flexible" because you can modify the steps when a better way presents itself or when the path becomes clearer as you progress.
Examples of Objectives
It is not the same to say:
My goal is to lose weight
What to say:
I'm going to lose 10 kilos to reach my ideal weight of 65 kg before December 20, 20XX.
My workout plan consists of walking 45 minutes every day and eating raw fruits and vegetables twice a day.
This would truly be true SMART.
