What goals did you set this year? Do you find that you always start out with good intentions but are unable to cross the finish line when it comes to your goals? If you didn’t catch our last blog post, I shared that you should say no to new year’s resolutions.  Instead, think about solutions that you can achieve in your business.  You can even take this a step further and apply this to your personal goals.  One way to think about doing this is through goal setting.

Goals are important and serve as an effective strategy in making plans happen.  Many are familiar with the quote by Benjamin Franklin, “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”  Planning is essential to your goals.  It is important that your goals are not just something in your head, but rather doable steps. Additionally, you need a process that aligns with what you should do when it comes to your goals.

So, what exactly are SMART goals and how do you have them? I am glad you asked! 🙂 Quick history lesson, the SMART acronym first appeared in the November 1981 Management Review.  “There’s a S.M.A.R.T way to write management goals and objectives,” shares George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham.

The five criteria include:

Specific: Target a specific area for improvement

Measurable: Quantify, or at least suggest, an indicator of progress

Assignable: Specify who will do it

Realistic: State what results can realistically be achieved given available resources.

Time-related: Specify when the result can be achieved.

Are your goals SMART? If not, start the year off with SMART goals. The success of your business depends on your ability to set and achieve goals. Remember, it’s a new year, however it also requires a new mindset and doing things differently! So get started being SMART today! 🙂