Everyone has goals. From running a 5K to buying a home, growing your team, or increasing revenue next year, we all have something we want to achieve. But how many times have you set a goal, worked toward it for a month or two, and then completely fallen off the wagon? In some cases, things happen that keep us from achieving a goal, but in others, it’s because we didn’t set a good goal from the start.
What is Goal Setting?
Before we dive in too deeply, let’s back up and define goal setting. Based on the Cambridge English Dictionary, we define goal setting as deciding to work toward a change or certain outcome over a set period of time. A key phrase in that definition is over a set period of time. Far too often, we’re too lenient with our goals and don’t have an end date in mind, and that’s where things can get off track.
S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Goals
You’ve probably heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals, but Michael Hyatt takes things a step further with the addition of two new elements that a goal should encompass. According to his S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goals method, a goal should be:
Specific
enough to focus and direct your energies
Measurable
so you can keep track of your progress
Actionable
with a clear, initiating verb that prompts specific activity
Risky
enough to leverage our natural tendency to rise to challenges
Time-keyed
so you’re prompted exactly when to act
Exciting
enough to inspire and harness the power of your intrinsic motivation
Relevant
within the overall context of your life
We believe S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goals are the foundation of a great plan because they help you define the desired result and plan how you’ll get there by setting a standard for measurement to track progress toward the proverbial finish line. When you make your goals S.M.A.R.T.ER., you’re setting more effective goals that you’ll have a higher likelihood of achieving.
What does a good goal look like?
Let’s compare a couple of goals, setting one using the S.M.A.R.T.E.R. method.
General Goal
Start running.
Increase revenue.
Improve customer retention.
S.M.A.R.T. Goal
I want to run a 5k this year.
Increase revenue next year.
Improve customer retention in 2025.
In the examples above, you’ll notice the S.M.A.R.T. goal includes a time frame in which the goal should be completed. That gives the goal-setter an end date to work toward. They can then plan around that goal to help them stay on track. But what if we take it a step further?
S.M.A.R.T. Goal
I want to run a 5k this year.
Increase revenue next year.
Improve customer retention in 2025.
S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Goal
I want to run the Duluth Donut Dash 5k in under 30 minutes next year.
Increase revenue by 20% next year.
Maintain an 80% customer retention rate in 2025.
In the S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goals, the goal-setters are working within a set timeframe in which they want to reach their goals, as well as giving themselves a point of measurement for the goal. This helps them elevate their plans so they can measure progress along the way and adjust their plans as needed to reach their goals.
One thing you’ll notice with all the examples above is that the goals describe changes or outcomes, not activities or tasks. Those activities come into play later.
Could you use some help setting your branding, marketing or website goals for the year ahead? Want us to write your goals for you?
Set S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Goals in 2025
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