SMART Goals

One of the ways to clearly define your goals is to use the SMART acronym. There are now several versions of the SMART acronym and whichever version you choose is a good place to start. In a previous blog, I went through some of these in more detail or check out my recent video (and there’s always Google).

smart-goal

SMART is about getting really specific with a tangible goal that has a meaning to you. SMART means you can actively track your progress. And it MUST have a deadline, a finishing point where you can see, and say, “OMG, I did it!”

Using my own weight loss journey I’ll show you how SMART goal setting can take you to success. (For those of you who don’t know me I lost 12½ kg on the Weight Watchers program and went on to become a meeting leader inspiring both men & women to reach their weight loss goals.)

Specific – Make it tangible to make it real.

  • I wanted to lose weight & I had a vague idea I wanted to be the weight I was before children. When I talked it through with my weight loss coach & heard what I wanted I had a goal that had real meaning to me.

Measurable – Track your way to success.

  • For me, it started as a number on the scales. For others, this was THE most de-motivating measurement.  Over time I measured:

– What I ate, how much & when

– How far I walked and how much faster I did it or how much further I went.

– How loose my clothes were getting.

– And I got feedback (another tangible measurement) on how much better I was looking and how much happier I was.

Achievable – Silence the inner voice of doubt.

  • By hearing & reading other success stories I started to believe, making the changes was possible and doing what needed to be done could be done.
  • Mini goals along the way can take you all the way to achievable.

Realistic/Relevant – Challenge what others say is realistic & make it relevant to you.

  • Getting back to pre-birth weight 15 yrs later was not possible I was told. My inner rebel fired up at that and I proved it is possible!

Time based/Timeline – It’s a clear tangible goal so put a date to it. Otherwise, it’s just a wish.

  • My deadline was Christmas and along the way there were milestones.
  • I fell short of my Christmas deadline by 1½ kg. That was enough inspiration for me to really focus my efforts. I reached my goal on January 4.

Find a SMART goal acronym and create a tangible goal that has real meaning to you, one that allows you to see your progress and ultimately inspires you to your “OMG, I did it!” celebration.

Is your goal missing the ZING that inspires you? Contact me for a free 1/2hr call and let’s fine tune the words to inspire your success.