November is considered many things to most people. For most business owners, it’s the fourth quarter. It’s near the end of the year for goal-setters, and the average individual, another month.  As you can see, closing out another year has a different meaning for everyone. Many times we look at life as if we expect to see the next day, and the visions we’ve had will work out without any participation or intentions from our efforts. 

I remember when I had no clue what it meant to “create the future I desired” until I learned how to use S.M.A.R.T. Goals. Parts of my mind believed I needed to have permission to accomplish some of them. So, I didn’t attempt to try. Until one year, I noticed my status wasn’t any different than the year before. I had to figure out a different way to accomplish what I wanted or sit and watch years go by while my physical fitness goals, performance appraisals, and relationships would become stagnate. That was a game-changer! I realized I had to shift positions for things in my life to change. That’s when I learned how to become proactive in my career and life.

I use the following S.M.A.R.T. Goals principles and begin going in the direction I’d hoped.

Specific: What will you accomplish? What actions will you take?

Measurable: What data will measure the goal? How much? How well?

Achievable: Is the goal doable? Do you have the necessary skills and resources? How must you prepare yourself to accomplish your goals?

Relevant: How does the goal align with broader goals? Why is the result significant?

Timebound: What is the time frame for accomplishing the goal? Does the time allotted appear to be realistic?

It’s essential to understand the power of focus when creating goals. If you identify more than three at a time, it’s easier to get lost and discouraged. By choosing to be focused on less than three S.M.A.R.T. Goals at a time, you allow room for expansion and freedom to adapt.

Once you identify the top three things, you desire to work towards, write out the steps necessary to make it possible. Be intentional about the outcome you want to receive and further research the best method possible.

Find an accountability partner or someone you can trust to help you move along. Perhaps they’re willing to go on the journey with you, and the two of you succeed at the same time?

After you’ve accomplished that audacious goal, choose another, and start over again. Be sure to celebrate your success in achieving that physical fitness goal, receiving that outstanding performance appraisal, and ongoing relationship goals, you were strategically S.M.A.R.T. about attaining.

May I Help?

I offer consultations around business strategy, storytelling, media, and marketing as it applies to content marketing and much more. No question is too small.  I’m here to help, should you want to talk that over and see how I can get your company’s content marketing to serve you better. Just drop me a line via this contact form and I’ll get right back to you. I look forward to helping you.