5 Keys for Making Goals SMART

How do I make SMART goals?

In this 4-minute video, I'll share the 5 keys to making your goals S.M.A.R.T.

When your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, they propel you forward—and lead you toward personal significance.

(Full Transcript is below.)

Full Transcript of video

Hello, I’m Josh Duncan with SCBTV News bringing you this edition of Financial Freedom. The purpose of Financial Freedom is to provide tips to help you achieve financial freedom for personal significance.

Welcome to the third episode in our series about goals and how they can help you achieve personal significance. Last time we discussed the tension between the ease of setting a goal and the complexity of meeting the goal. Today we are going to discuss making goals SMART.

Learning about SMART goals

I remember learning about SMART goals when I began my first corporate position at Caterpillar after college. Fresh out of school with no real corporate experience and I was directed to document my goals for my first year in “the real world.” This felt like an impossible assignment as I was still learning my role as an entry level programmer. Thankfully, a more tenured coworker helped me through the process.

Now that I’ve had 16 years to practice writing SMART goals, I’ve learned a few things that have made this a less strenuous event for me. Let’s review what the SMART acronym means and then discuss a few tips to help you with your goals.

SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-constrained.

Specific

SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-constrained. Making your goal specific is straight forward. The idea here is to make your goals as clear-cut as necessary for you, your team and your manager. This will help keep everyone involved on the same page.

Measurable

Making your goal measurable is simply stating how you will know when you have achieved your goal. For example, if your goal is to start saving for retirement, your goal should state the amount of money you plan to have saved by the end of the year.

Achievable

Next is ensuring your goal is achievable. This is where you can identify what additional skills, support and resources you may need to accomplish your goal. You want to stretch yourself but not make an insurmountable hurdle.

Relevant

Your goal must be relevant to the greater good your goal supports. If your goal is for your business, then the completion of the goal should move the business forward. Conversely, a personal goal should move you closer to your personal mission.

Time constrained

Finally, your goal should have a time constraint for when it should be completed. Without a set time to complete the goal, it likely will not be completed.

Intentionality: Getting started with your SMART goals

Now that you know the attributes of SMART goals, let me share some tips to help you move forward. First, documenting your goals requires intentionality. It will be easier to head to lunch with your coworker or friend than to take an hour to write out your goals. Schedule the time on your calendar and get started.

Seven or less

Next, keep your list of goals to seven or less. If this is your first time documenting your goals, then start with two to three goals. Remember, you want realistic goals. Start with a shorter list and add more if you complete your first set of goals.

Seek support

Finally, ask for help. Find a friend who you can share your goals with and ask them if they will help hold you accountable. It’s great to have a friend checking in with you as they value you and your relationship. They want to help you get where you’re going.

As we wrap up on SMART goals, remember why you are setting your goals. Making your goals SMART is the first step in acting on your goals. Next time we will discuss tracking your goals.

Thank you for joining me for Financial Freedom. I'm Josh Duncan with F5 Financial Planning, helping you achieve financial freedom for personal significance. Please send topics you would like me to cover to me at this link. See you next time.

Recent video blog posts in this series:

• 5 Reasons to Set Goals
• 3 Steps to Accomplish Any Goal