Steps to Success: Be SMART About Goal Setting

You’ve heard the saying, make a plan and work the plan….but how do you make the plan…and more importantly how do you keep yourself on task to make sure you are doing everything you can each and every day to work your plan? It all begins with setting goals!

The reality is that most people do not achieve their goals because they haven't taken the time do to five simple things to set them up for success. I'll be sharing those five simple things with you over the next month! This week's topic is all about SMART goals.

Whenever you create goals, you will find that following the rules for SMART goals will be easier to achieve. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. When you combine the elements of SMART goals, you have a greater chance of success. Let’s begin with S-which is specific goals.

Specific Goals

Goals need to be specific. You will not be able to reach you goals if they are broad and general because planning will be too difficult. For example, “Improve my life” is too broad. You cannot work towards this general goal. Specific goals explain what is necessary to complete a goal and guides you as you try to reach the goal. Specific goals may also identify location, requirements, and the reasoning behind the goal.

General goal: Make more money | Specific goal: Make X amount per month by December 2020.

M which is measurable.

Measurable Goals

Goals need to be measurable in order to be effective. A measurable goal specifies the when a goal is accomplished by answering, “how much?” or “how many?” It provides measurable results. Without measurable goals, it is difficult to realize when the goal has been reached.

General goal: Close 20 loans a month | Measurable goal: Prospect a minimum of 90 minutes daily. Meet with 3 Realtors weekly. Complete 5 calls daily.

A is attainable.

Attainable Goals

Goals must always be attainable. It is important that you create goals that are challenging, but they still need to be within reach. When goals are unattainable, you will give up on them without even trying. The measure of a goal should always be attainable.

Unattainable goal: Earn one million in the next three months | Attainable goal: Earn 500,000 in the next 12 months.

R is realistic goals.

Realistic Goals

Goals must always be realistic. It is important to create goals that are real and within reach.

Unrealistic goal: Run a marathon without training | Realistic goal: Run a marathon after training for a year.

And finally, T is time-based goals.

Time-based Goals

Always create goals that have specific time frames. General goals do not establish any time frames, which means that you may continue to pursue goals that you should relinquish. Timely goals encourage you to move forward in order to meet the deadline you have established. Once a time frame has been reached, you should take the time to reevaluate the goal.

General goal: Record a FTHB video | Timely goal: Record a FTHB video within the next 30 days.

Now that you have your goals, you need to make a plan to achieve your goals, which is the next step in planning your success. Stay tuned for our weekly blog article on Wednesdays!