Look at your wheel, pick a flat area. For me this year – my flat side is my health.
I use the S.M.A.R.T. anagram – up to a point. I think the steps have value – some steps I think can put ceilings on our dreams. Balance is needed in applying these steps.
Specific – Be specific in your goal. What do you want to accomplish? In my case, better health is vague. I have 2 issues, weight and energy. Even then – it is setting a goal weight to achieve or how many pounds to I need to lose.
Measurable – With specific goals, you can break it down into smaller increments or steps. That allows you to see progress along the way. Measurable lets you know when you have arrived at your destination.
Achievable –Is it reasonable to obtain or achieve the goal. For instance, a goal to lose 15 pounds in 30 days is not achievable in a healthy sustainable way. But a goal of 5 pounds is reasonable and achievable. Increasing your body strength is a measurable goal. However, increasing your ability to lift weights from 100 lbs. to 500 lbs. in a month is likely to do more damage than good.
I believe balance is important in this step. I do think you need to dream BIG. You may not see how to get from A to Z today, but you move towards that dream with smaller steps. We would not have the inventions today like the telephone and now cell phones and smart phones if someone wasn’t dreaming. We would not be able to travel coast to coast in a day if someone didn’t dream about flying.
More to come on dreaming…
Realistic – Are your goals reasonable with your skill set? To become a highly acclaimed musician by the end of the year isn’t realistic if you don’t play an instrument. However, people can get stopped here from pursuing a dream, or taking their talent to the next level.
From the outside looking in, someone may say you can’t accomplish your goal. Do not under estimate the power of passion and the strength of self-discipline. Teamed together amazing results can happen.
Time – This is a critical step. Set yourself a date for when you will achieve your goal. Goals are dreams with a deadline. Deadlines help you focus. People may be reluctant to set deadlines because they become the dates you determine if you succeeded or failed. Think in these terms – IF YOU SHOOT FOR THE MOON AND MISS – YOU ARE STILL AMONG THE STARS.
For example, Jack Canfield author of ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ set a goal to sell 1.5 million copies by a certain date. That date came; he had sold 1.3 million copies. Was that a success or a failure? By the way he has gone on to sell several million copies in several different languages.