What is a goal?
Goal (n): The aim, object or purpose toward which an endeavor is directed. It is what you want to achieve from any course of action or process or decision you take.
Examples include a goal to obtain a BSc by attending a university; Marrying so as to have a companion, or children; Seeking employment so as to earn money. And so on.
Why must you have a goal?
On the importance of a clearly defined goal, think of every decision or endeavor in life as a journey. Think of it as a ship on the ocean on a journey. The goal is the destination.
Now you can imagine embarking on a journey without a specific pre-planned destination. The journey will eventually end and that end will put a destination to the journey. But if the destination was not clearly defined from onset, now you will agree that the final destination could end up being anywhere: same starting point, or a worse location, or rarely a better end.
Anything you embark on in life, set a clear goal - what you wish to achieve from it. The #goal (destination) will determine and dictate what direction to take! And you won't get lost.
How can a goal be SMART?
Well, SMART is an acronym that spells out the requisite attributes of a goal so as to ensure it will or can be achieved.
Each letter spells out an attribute which must be characteristic of your set goal and will determine if its really a goal or a desire.
S - Specific
A goal that must be achieved has to be specific, clearly defined end. Think of it again as a journey. If you embark on it without a specific destination in mind - could be home, office, restaurant, friend's home - then we know it will amount to waste of time and resources. Could even be dangerous.
M - Measurable
A goal that will be achieved has to be measurable, quantifiable. This very single attribute will tell you if you have achieved your goal or not. In specific and absolute terms you must be able to measure both your goal and your progress towards its achievement.
At any point along the journey you should be able to measure how close or far you are to your destination or goal achievement.
A - Achievable, Actionable
This is a dual function acronym. A real goal cannot be impossible. It has to be possible. It has to be achievable.
For instance, you are uneducated, you don't have a dime and live in a ghetto in Nigeria but your goal is that in 24 hours you want to buy all the shares of GTBank off the Stock Market and become the major shareholder. Is that achievable? I say NO! A real goal has to be possible. In effect, set #goals you can achieve, that are possible.
Actionable goal will include action plans that dictate clearly the course of actions you will take to achieve it.
How about this: you are an unemployed graduate living with your parents in Oyo town. You just finished your NYSC but you don't have a CV lest submitting it anywhere for job application. And yet your goal is to get employed by P&G in two weeks while all you do in the meantime is to follow you mum to farm everyday.
What do you expect? Miracle?
R - Realistic, Relevant
This is also a dual role acronym.
A Realistic goal will be a sincere one and not out of this world. It won't be too difficult, neither will it be too easy.
A Relevant goal must add value and must be related to the devoted course of action or endeavor. In such manner the outcome will clearly glorify the devoted resources.
T - Timely, Time-based, Time-limit
This single attribute also will clearly determine by its presence or not if what you call your goal is really one or it's just a wish.
The time factor will clearly state when a deadline is and also be a major measure of progress and success (achieved) itself. To understand its importance, remember the journey illustration earlier.
You embark on a journey now, with clear destination - office. But if you fail to set a time limit to it, then its not a problem if you get to the office 2 days or months later. Get it?
The time factor will bring in a sense of urgency and spur you to utilise efficiently the limited resources - including especially time!
Also as a measure of progress, setting a time limit to your set goal will help you at any point in time to determine if you are progressing or not, by comparing your closeness to the final end with the time left (time consumed minus total time). With this fact, you will be able to determine what works and what doesn't. If a strategy is not working or not not efficient then you will know.
For instance, in your office you embark on a sales strategy that is expected to double your last year's earning before end of the new year. Now the time limit is end of current year. By mid-year, you must be able to take stocks and measure your progress, and realistically predict the future based on current trends of things and relevant indicators. If your findings compared with time spent do not make your goals achievable anymore, then its time to go back to the drawing board - before its too late.
Now imagine if your plan had been just to double your sales in the near future, even in 2 years time you could still be hoping! Get it?
In effect, always bring in the time factor to every goal you set. And as a sub-condition, let your time factor or limit be Realistic too. Let it be Reasonable - not too short, not too long.
A #SmartGoal is the goal that can be achieved. Do not forget. Always use this formula next time you set a goal. Ask the relevant questions and isolate the relevant factors as you embark on the journey. You would be happy you did.
As it relates to goal setting, when can it be said that you have achieved your goal? At this time we will bring back in two major factors isolated above: Measurement and Time.
On or before the Time deadline if your Measurement of progress is 100% or more, then your goal is Achieved.
~ ARISTOTLEFirst, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.
Next time you are planning a journey - at your business, in your career, in your home - set SMART goals. Achieving these goals will be very satisfying.
Comments are encouraged. :w':