9 examples of SMART goals.
…but first, what stage of life are you in, because if you’re not at the right part in your life, you can’t set SMART goals and expect anything to happen.
You could divide life up into many different lists, but for the sake of this post, we will divide life up in this way:
- Dead Stage: Life happens to us, we feel helpless and are taken by the flow of life according to this mercy. We do not actively seek the results we want, so random results come to us, whether their desirable or not. This is a state of utter anarchy. We exercise no control.
- Aware Stage: also known as the Practice stage. Somehow, or other, we’ve developed knowledge that our efforts and mindset can dictate how our life plays out. We understand theoretically that we can have more control, and seek that control out.
- Gratitude Stage: Having gone through several failed attempts to take control of our lives, we’ve come into the clearing where we’re no longer holding ourselves back. This is a stage where we feel fully in control (as much as we can be). The predominant feeling here is – “I have a say in this afterall!”
These stages are very real. Unfortunately, most stage in the Dead Phase of life…until they die.
You cannot set SMART goals until you reach the Aware Stage.
Luckily for us, simply deciding to believe that the desires we have can be turned into real results allows us to create a better life. That makes you able to set SMART Goals and start FINALLY seeing real results.
Examples of SMART Goals
Start with your main desire (to make more money).
- Now make it more Specific, [to start a side business that will bring in more online income].
- Now make that Measurable, [The amount of money I will make is $500 extra/month].
- Now, make sure Achievable/practical, [I will allow 6 months to work the kinks out in the business, and then set goals to make this money in the following six months].
- Examine whether the goal is Relevant to your desire. [Yes, an online business is something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and would accomplish my main desire]
- Time Bound. [The total amount of time this should take is 18 months. 6 months to get the business established, and 12 months to finally reach the goal of $500 extra income per month.]
RELATED: SMARTER Goals: How to Take High Energy Action Steps
Losing Weight
Wrong!
“I will lose some weight.”
Right!
- My goal is to lose weight in my core region, around my love handles and belly, using weight training.
- I’ll lose 30 lbs.
- As long as I’m serious about my nutrition and weight training this goal is perfectly achievable.
- This goal is both Relevant to me, and my method (weight training) is capable of achieving my main desire (to lose the way in my core region).
- With serious weight training, and disciplined nutrition, plus a modest buffer zone of one month to get in the groove – losing 1lb per week is perfectly achievable, making the goal’s timeline precisely 30 weeks.
RELATED: How to Create a Master Plan that Ensures Success for your Goals and Projects!
Starting a Successful Online Business
Wrong!
“I will start my own business!”
Right!
- I will start an online freelancing business where I help others create images for their blogs and provide the graphic materials for their business!
- My freelancing business will have 4 clients each paying me $1000 per month to manage the graphic design portion of their business
- I’ve helped many people start graphic design businesses in the past, and bought a course on it, so this is perfectly achievable for me.
- Graphic design is my favorite thing to do, and Freelancing affords me the freedom I desire.
- I’ve started several of these business for others, and it should only take me 4 months to get everything in full swing.
Building Wider Shoulder Muscles
Wrong!
“I will get bigger arms!”
Right!
- I will increase the size of my biceps so that my arms look better in my shirts
- Biceps by 2 inches measured by the circumference of the entire arm (best case)
- I consulted several fitness trainers, and they all said that 2 inches would be achievable for anyone with the right work out regimen and nutrition plan
- Increasing size of my biceps will increase the size of my arms and get me the results I want (main desire, to have bigger arms).
- The timeline I will allow is 4 months – at a rate of .5 inches per month.
RELATED: How to Achieve your Goals Successfully Every Time
This one is slightly different than the other examples of smart goals. Notice that research was done to see how achievable this goal was for the individual.
More Respect in the Scientific/Academic Field
Wrong!
“I’ll be the best in my field!”
Right!
- I will publish articles this year on the leading topics in my field with brilliant findings and new theories!
- The amount of articles I will publish is 5, on the most important and widely discussed topics.
- I’m very experienced in publishing articles and the scientific landscape, so this goal is perfectly achievable for me.
- The way to be (and be seen as) the best in my field is to do serious research, experimentation and publish my findings. This goal is relevant.
- I will publish 5 articles this year, with one month of vacation time in between. That works out to one week of break every three months and 5 articles in between.
Traveling the World
Wrong!
“I will go on fun adventures and see new exciting places.”
Right!
- I will travel to every country in Europe
- I will spend 1 year in Europe altogether, and spend at least 1 week in each.
- This is perfectly achievable. There are 44 countries in Europe, so spending 1 week in each would be fine, while allowing me to spend more than one week in certain countries.
- This is relevant because my desire is to travel the world and see wonderful architecture, which Europe has plenty of.
- I will start this journey within the next 3 months, and take 1 year to complete it, making this goal accomplish at most in 1 year and 3 months.
RELATED: Goals: What Are They and How To Do Them Well
Increasing Social Media Follower Count
Wrong!
“Time for me to make my instagram account bigger”
Right!
- I will increase the amount of followers on my instagram account by creating more content consistently!
- I will increase my followers by 25k by the end of the year
- A strict regimen on average can yield 100k per year, I have chosen a lighter load so 25k is possible.
- Instagram is the account that I enjoy using the most, and its the best platform for my business so this goal is relevant.
- I will start after winter break, giving myself 12 months to reach this goal.
Following your Passion & Purpose
Wrong!
“I’m going to start taking my life back and doing it my way!”
Right!
- I’m going to find my passion in life, transform it into a youtube channel and become known as “the person” in this area.
- My goal is to have 100 videos up on this youtube channel.
- There is nothing that keeps me from reaching this goal.
- This goal is relevant because I’m at the point in my life where I know a new direction is needed but I feel stuck.
- It’s the beginning of the year. I’m going to give myself 2 months to find what I’m passionate about (even if it’s not a final destination), and the rest of the year to create the 100 videos. This makes the goal achievable by 12 months from now.
Harnessing your Subconscious Mind Power
Wrong!
“I’m tired of my subconscious sabotaging my entire life!”
Right!
- I’m going to target my limiting beliefs and free myself of thoughts and feelings that hold me back by targeting them in my subconscious, using subliminal suggestion after waking and before bed.
- I’ll target 3 limiting beliefs that I think are most responsible from keeping me from my potential.
- With the right method of attack, this goal is achievable.
- This goal is relevant to me, because the subconscious mind is responsible for our automatic behaviors, and most of my hesitation to succeed in life happens without me realizing it.
- I will cycle each of the three limiting beliefs for 120 days each, making this goal achievable in 1 year.
What Are SMART Goals?
SMART goals are a goal setting system that allow us to take a more standardized approach to achieve the results we desire in life.
Although people say SMART goals are only for large companies and those with businesses, I’ve found that smart goals also fit a certain personality type (logical, result oriented and organized. Numbers people) and can be used successfully in our personal lives.
These examples of SMART goals prove that (when done properly) they can be used by beginners and more advanced goal setters.
How Can SMART Goals Be Used in your Life?
- When you have issues pursuing your goals because you’re confused about what to do.
- To have a clear roadmap of what needs to be done by when
- If you ever find that your goals take way too long or you have a tendency to drag things out for longer than necessary
- So that you can be clear as to what you want and experience alertness about your objectives in reaching your goals.
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