Trying to set a SMART goal? Ask these questions !!!

Whether you are starting a project, setting personal goals, building a new habit, or even planning a trip, the SMART acronym helps you not only establish what you want but also look back and evaluate the targets you set.

Believe me, tomorrow you wont be feeling about your goals the way you are feeling today.

STEP 1: Specificity: Tell me clearly what you want

1. what do I want to achieve
2. what is exactly my reason (why) to do this
3. who is involved in this besides me
4. who will receive the benefits of it
5. Where the results will be felt/ experienced
6. what are the possible requirements and constraints

STEP 2: Measurability: Tell me how would you check your growth/ achievement

1. what will tell me that my efforts are resulting
2. what are my metrics to quantify my growth and achievement
3. with what I can compare my metrics/ performance

STEP 3: Attainability: Tell me can you do this?

1. Are the goals attainable - ask “how can they be accomplished?”
2. Are they too extreme to be attained?

"उद्योगिनं पुरुषसिंहं उपैति लक्ष्मीः दैवं हि दैवमिति कापुरुषा वदंति।

दैवं निहत्य कुरु पौरुषं आत्मशक्त्या यत्ने कृते यदि न सिध्यति न कोऽत्र दोषः।।"

Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) comes to the lion who does the work. "God is the giver of (luck)", it is said by the cowardly men. So leave the god (luck) and do your task with your power, try! If the work is not proved even after doing it, then what is your fault (defect)?

STEP 4: Relevancy: Why this goal is useful in the current context?

1. Does The effort involved balance out the benefits?
2. Does it match my/ organization’s goals, priorities, and values, and is it worthwhile for everyone?
3. The amount of time to complete the project and to sustain the project under changing budget and audience, has a big impact.

STEP 5: Timeline: Am I going to put my whole life into this?

1. Does The goal have a deadline?
2. Do I know how much should be accomplished over time
3. Do I have a method to track the progress?

Further Reading:

• S.M.A.R.T. Goals Made Simple: 10 Steps to Master Your Personal and Career Goals
• The Art Of Setting Smart Goals: Set winning goals and live a life of abundance, success, and achievement