What are smart goals?

I's easy to grab a piece of paper and write down you goals. Whether you'll achieve them, that's the question.

When you set SMART goals you improve your chances many times over. 

What are smart goals? 

S - Specific

M - Measurable

A - Achievable

R - Relevant

T - Time-bound

1. Specific

Be very specific when you describe your goal. Express your goal with as much detail as you can. The more you define it, the better. 

For instance , "I want a sports car " is a general goal. Instead, "I drive a red Bentley Continental GTC with leather seats. It has a 4.0L, 8-cylinder engine and automatic transmission." Etc. etc. Now that is specific!

The more specific you can be, the better.

2. Measurable

To determine whether a goal is measurable, you could ask questions such as how can I achieve this goal. Will I know when I've achieved the goal?

When a goal is measurable you focus on it, advance steadily towards it and can keep track of your progress.

If you can't measure a goal it is not part of SMART. That's why "successful" or "be happy" can not be considered as goals.

3. Achievable

You must have a reasonable expectation that you can achieve the goal. It does not necessarily mean easy! 

4. Relevant

A relevant goal is one that is important to you. You truly want it, it fits in with your ethics and beliefs and you are willing to work towards achieving it.

You have to distinguish between a goal and a 'would like' thought. For example, you may like the idea of being a top athlete, but are you really prepared to put in the effort that it takes? 

5. Time-bound

Time-bound is the last feature. You have to place a deadline on when you want to achieve your goal. Suppose you don't set a deadline, how long will it take? Forever?

When you set up a goal, test it against the SMART system. Fine-tune it until it is a SMART goal.