Are you feeling overwhelmed by the desire to achieve your goals? Goals can be set at any time of the year so when you do decide to set new goals, it's always an opportunity to revisit the ones that you have already set.

When we set goals, we always have good intentions to achieve them, yet sometimes (and sometimes frequently), we encounter obstacles that prevent us from achieving success.

SMART goals

Most people know about SMART goals:

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Time-guided

This acronym is an effective tool for goal-setting. Yet we're still not always able to achieve those goals.

What stops us from achieving our goals?

We are living beings so there is an emotional element in every aspect of our lives. That includes our goals. If you have an emotional connection to your goal then you're more likely to remain focused on that goal and motivated to achieve it.

If you're not emotionally connected to your goal, then you're less likely to make the commitment to it to ensure that it is achieved.

'The moment one definitely commits, then providence moves too'

~ W. H. Murray

SMARTIE goals

What if we modified the SMART acronym slightly and added additional elements to it?

That is where SMARTIE goals can be more effective.

Specific

If you delegated this goal to another person, would they know where to start and when they had finished?

The more precisely the goal is stated, the easier it will be to take the necessary steps to achieve that goal.

Measurable

How will you know when you have achieved your goal? Without measurement, there's no progress check. Without progress, there is no lasting motivation.

Achievable

Do you have the necessary contacts, support, training, education and skills to achieve your goal?

Setting up an achievable goal that also stretches you will help to motivate you.

Relevant

A goal should be relevant. In other words, important and meaningful for you.

Ask yourself: Why do I want what I want?

A relevant goal is aligned with your deeper values and motives.

Time-guided

What is the time frame that you need to achieve this goal? Many people tend to work toward deadlines. By knowing when you want to achieve your goal, you can then work backwards from the deadline date.

In doing so, you can work out a monthly, weekly or even daily set of steps to achieve your goal. In turn, you can easily establish whether you're on track and take action if not.

Inspirational

If your goal doesn't inspire you then it's unrealistic to expect that you're going to be driven to achieve it.

Emotional

How will you feel when you have achieved your goal? For most of us the 'feeling' is the real goal.

A great way to write a goal is to begin with the end in mind. By doing so, you are able to move toward experiencing that feeling by achieving the goal.

Write the goal as if it's already been achieved, that is, in the present tense.

For example, 'I am feeling X having achieved Y.'

Over to you…

Having covered the components of SMARTIE goals, how will you now set goals that you will be able to focus on throughout the year ahead? We have a free template that you can use to help apply SMARTIE to achieving your goals.

Click here to download your free goal-setting template to help you achieve your goals this year.

Contact the Infinite Growth office if you have any questions or if you would like assistance in achieving your goals.