Make Your SMART goals SMARTer!

You've probably heard of SMART goals, well these goals are SMARTer. SMARTer goals will ensure that you maximize your chances of goal setting success.

Every year, millions of people set goals as they make their New Years resolutions with the best of intentions, only to make the same resolutions the following year.

There are two main reasons why many don't succeed in their goals.

1. Often their goals are vague, such as "I want to get better at sport" or "I want to be richer", or "I want to be successful".
2. They set and forget goals - only to set goals again for the next new year.

SMARTer goals will maximize your chances of success. SMARTer goals is a acronym for the essential components of goal setting success.

S - Specific. Specific goals focus your attention and energy on what you need to do to achieve your goal. For example, a vague goal such as "I want to lose weight and become fitter" could be made to be more specific, such as "I will lose 6 pounds and run 3 times a week for 20 minutes each time." You can set goals in the different areas of your life by clicking here.

M - Measurable. If you can't measure your goal how will you know that you have reached it? For example, rather than setting goals such as I will exercise today or read my notes tomorrow, set more measurable goals such as "I will walk 5 miles today" or "I will read chapters 1 and 2 tomorrow."

By setting measurable goals you establish concrete criteria that measures your progress. By reaching these benchmarks or milestones you experience the satisfaction of achievement that boosts your confidence and spurs you onto greater effort.

A - Action steps. How are you going to reach your goal? What steps do you need to take, what resources do you need to get, to achieve your goal. For example, suppose you want to lose 5 pounds in six months, you may take the steps of cutting your mid morning snack and walking 2 miles at lunch time. Download an action plan and see my real life example here.

R - Realistic. If you are couch potato, there is no use in setting a goal to run a marathon in 2 weeks. Setting realistic goals does not mean the goals are easy, but you do need to stretch yourself and focus to achieve your goal.

For example, I am a bit of a chocoholic, and I know that I can't do (will not do) without my chocolate, so setting a goal to not each chocolate for the rest of my life is clearly unrealistic. However, a more realistic goal is to reduce the amount of chocolate I eat to one bar a week.

T - Time-based. By setting a deadline to achieve your goal you create a sense of urgency to take action today! Whether your time frame is today, tomorrow or in 5 years time, setting a time to achieve you make your goal a priority.

E - Are your SMART goals energetic, exciting and ethical? Your goals should reflect your values and be something that you are passionate about achieving. By having goals that are energizing and exciting, you will be motivated to keep going to achieve your goal.

R - Reviewed and resourced. Many people set and forget goals, and as a result never achieve what they were aiming for. Setting goals is an active process - and reviewing progress and adjusting your goals is important for goal success. For example, an injured athlete should review their goals to take into account their injury.

Having the resources to achieve your goal is important also. If you are not prepared to put in the time and effort to make a change then it is unlikely that you will make the sacrifices to achieve your goal.

So your SMART goals which you are passionate about and reviewed on a regular basis become SMARTer goals.

SMART or SMARTer goals an important part of your goal setting toolkit. They provide the framework to maximize the chances of making today's dreams into tomorrow's reality.

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