What are SMART goals?
If you have a home business it is important to be extremely focused and you need to have clear goals. Using SMART Goals is a great way to ensure that your goals are a positive for your business, that they will help, not hinder you.
SMART goals are defined by a specific set of criteria to apply to your goals. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time Bound.
So what makes goals SMART goals?
Specific: Goals need to be specific. Often our goals are a bit vague, it’s nearly impossible to measure whether we hit them or not. For example, a statement like “I will save money” is not specific enough. How will you know if and when you’ve reached your goal? Saying, ” I will save at least 10{9e6afc18e04fc5fa66224b06488e691531267e3d6804b0d35af7d6b75debefc2} of my income” is more specific. You know exactly what your goal is and what you need to do to achieve it.
Measurable: You need to be able to measure your results. For example, you may want to get more leads or prospects into your business. But, “generate more leads” is an ambiguous statement. A measurable objective is “I will be generating 5-10 leads per day by next month.” It’s a goal that is easy to measure.
Achievable: You need to be able to achieve your goal. It’s okay to aim high, but if your goal is to make $10,000 a day in your first week in network marketing is unrealistic. Make it within reach – “I want to make $3000 per month within 6 months in my business”, or whatever your numbers are, but don’t make it so hard that you’ve got not chance of achieving it.
Realistic: Are your goals realistic? When we’re kids we think we can do anything. As adults we learn that while we can have a lot, we can’t have it all at the same time. It’s important to honestly evaluate yourself. Do you have the ability and commitment to make your dream come true? Or does it need a little adjustment? For example, you may want to be a professional tennis player but do you have the drive and commitment to make it – do you want to be the next Roger Federer? Be honest with yourself.
Time Bound: Goals need to have a set time frame. Having a deadline will give your goals structure. For example, many of us want to find a new job or start our own business. Some people spend a lot of time talking about what they want to do, someday. But, without an end date there is no sense of urgency, no reason to take any action today. Having a specific time frame gives you the impetus to get started. It also helps you monitor your progress.
So next time you decide to set some goals make sure they are SMART Goals. Make sure the goal is a positive thing, not something that is just going to set you up for failure.
Is your goal S.M.A.R.T.? Use this checklist to see if complies:
- Specific – You know exactly what the goal is.
- Measurable – You are able to measure how far you have progressed towards the final goal.
- Achievable – The goal takes account of your particular situation at the time.
- Realistic – The goal reflects your skills, resources and ability to achieve a specific outcome.
- Timed – There is a definite time frame against which progress towards the goal can be tracked.
Using SMART Goals will become second nature whenever you are making plans for your business!
