Mastering Goal Setting with SMART Goals

Reflect on the difference between a wish and a SMART goal. A wish is a desire without a plan, while a goal requires a defined path.

“You can wish all you want and say one day I'm gonna go to the moon. And you can want that like your life depended on it. But a wish is not a goal.”

Examine a detailed example of a SMART goal with a long-term vision: putting your feet on the moon. This shows how to break down a large objective into actionable steps.

“In 20 years, I will have studied enough physics and chemistry, flown jet planes in the Air Force, worked out four times a week, and gotten a job as a astronaut for NASA. And this will enable me to fly a spacecraft to the moon and put my feet on it for science reasons.”

Analyze Thinky Pinky's reflection journal entry, where they define their goal to do two pull-ups by the end of the year.

“I want to be able to do two consecutive pull ups by the end of the year by practicing pull ups at the gym three times per week.”

Deconstruct Thinky Pinky's pull-up goal based on the SMART acronym: Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Timely.

“S is for specific. TP wants to work on pull ups. ... M is for measurable. What's the metric for TP's success? Two in a row.... A is for actionable. Can it be broken down into individual tasks. Yeah. Go into the gym three times a week to practice feels very actionable indeed. ... R is for realistic. TP's not training to lift a car. Just some pull ups. ... T is for timely. There's a time limit on this. Thinky Pinky wants to do this in a year's time.”

Think about something you want to achieve and define it using the SMART principles.

Schedule a monthly review to assess your progress and adjust your goal as needed.

Review the SMART framework and its application.

Links to books, articles, and websites for further learning.