by Rahimah Sultan

Advertising Disclosure: Marketing Success Review may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links on this website. There is no expense to you.

SMART is an acronym for the 5 essential features every significant goal should have. It should be: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

SMART goals are a way of setting intentions that are clear, trackable, and achievable.

These goals have to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.

Writing SMART goals is about breaking your objectives into smaller, more manageable sections that are easy to track and achieve.



What are SMART goals?


When you’re considering the meaning of SMART goals, think of them as a tool to change grand resolutions into a tangible roadmap. The SMART goals acronym can help you build a plan for personal and professional success.

As previously stated, SMART goals are an outline for setting clear and attainable objectives by making them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.


S: Specific

Remember you’re setting your SMART goals to accomplish a particular, limited objective—not a broad one. To be sure you can achieve them, make them specific to what you’re working on.


M: Measurable

To help you evaluate the success or failure of your project and know whether you’ve achieved your goals, there should be some kind of objective way to measure them, such as a deadline, percent change, a number, or some other measurable component.


A: Achievable

Although you want to be sure you’re setting goals that you could possibly hit, you don’t want them to be too easy to achieve. Achievable means your goals shouldn’t be completely outside the realm of possibility.


R: Relevant

A relevant goal aligns with your wide-ranging, broader life objective.

It’s one that you’re willing to work very hard for, because you know it impacts your long-term success.

If it doesn’t ultimately matter, you’re not going to stick to it.


T: Time-bound

A time-bound goal needs a deadline—a time frame that creates a sense of urgency.

If you have plenty of time to get something done, you’ll seldom get anything accomplished.

So, you need time constraints when it comes to significant goals. They’ll help you stay focused on the broader objective and your ultimate goal while ensuring the best prioritization.


Here are some SMART GOALS examples.


1. Time Management

Vague:  I want to better manage my time.

SMART:

To improve my time management, I’ll use a management planner to organize tasks, assign specific time blocks, and finish one thing at a time before starting another.


2. Lose weight:

Vague: I want to lose weight.

SMART:

I’ll lose 15 pounds in the next 15 weeks while following a balanced diet and exercising three times a week, tracking my weekly progress with a scale and a food diary app.


3. Travel

Vague: I want to do more traveling.

SMART:

Within the next 6 months, I’ll plan and book a 7-day cruise to the Bahamas by saving $200 per month and researching reasonably priced hotel choices.


4. Organization:

Vague: I want to be organized.

SMART:

Within the next 3 months, I’ll declutter and organize my home office by devoting 2 hours every weekend to decluttering my desk.



Are SMART goals the only way to go?


There’s another opinion on SMART goals.

Is it really true that goals have to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely?

Instead of the usual SMART goal lists that have been around for the past decade, hear what Emmanuel Acho has to say. It’s something new about setting goals.


For Gen Z, the More / Less List is the perfect goal-setting tool. It’s almost the precise opposite of SMART goals, but it performs where SMART goals fall short.

It was created by artist Julia Rothman as a low-pressure alternative to traditional New Year’s resolutions, where you list things you want to increase (“More”) and things you want to decrease (“Less”) in your life.

It’s a simple, action-based exercise to obtain clarity on your desires and intentions for the year. It frequently uses drawings or simple icons to represent what’s on the list.


It was popularized in short TikTok videos. The premise is easy:

Keep the list extremely simple
List MORE of what you want in your life/job/team/process
List LESS of what you don’t want


Using More / Less lists doesn’t mean you have to stop using SMART goals. You just want a flexible context for setting goals in the ever-changing tech workspace.


In this article, I’ve covered the SMART goals acronym, examples, and an alternative. It is by no means comprehensive, just an overview.

Try this viral mailer that pays

by Rahimah Sultan

Being successful in life requires a purpose and discipline to pursue that purpose. You must stay focused and avoid distractions. This also applies to business success.

You need to imagine yourself as a success. Daily visualize what your life will be like, what you’ll be doing, and how it feels. Decide what you like and are really good at and lay out a plan to get there. This will no doubt involve consulting with someone in your area of interest. Set clear goals and be realistic. Figure out what success looks like for you following these five tips for business success.

Focus on Your Main Objective

You might want to be a computer programmer or a software engineer. Research the requirements. It probably means attending school and getting certification. Or, you may want to be an Internet marketer. The same principal applies.

Write out a plan and begin taking steps toward that end. Don’t procrastinate. Break your goal into smaller goals and begin to work on those smaller goals. Set an overall timetable and times for finishing each smaller goal.

Avoid Distractions

Keep distractions at a minimum. It’s not possible to stay 100% focused 100% of the time. Just don’t let your goals take a backseat to them.

Find a Mentor

A mentor is someone who usually has a bit more experience than you, who knows the trade, offers advice, and helps you. A mentor will help you network, trouble shoot, and strategize.

Always keep learning. Gather as much information as you can. Take calculated risks.

Solve Problems

Successful people encourage progress by solving problems and answering questions. Can you make life easier for people in an effective way? Can you create a product or provide a service that fills a crucial gap?

Be Persistent

If your first attempt doesn’t work, pick yourself up and try again. Don’t make excuses. You will have failures. Failures don’t define you. They are learning experiences. Don’t repeat the same mistake. Don’t give up.

So, focus on your main objective, avoid distractions, find a mentor, solve problems, and be persistent.

Step out of your comfort zone. Don’t wait for opportunities to fall in your lap. Sniff them out. Successful people make big investments in their careers, in their businesses, in their education and, all investments involve risk. Use these five tips for business success to get started. Study your risks, make sure the odds are in your favor, and take a leap.

Start Building Your List Today
Click the Banner Below