Setting a SMART Goal has been the missing part of my action plan

It’s well past time for me to set a goal, come up with a plan, and then (most importantly) STICK TO IT!! As you’ve heard from me plenty of times before I have solid ideas and even the beginnings of plans, but they rarely lead to anything. The missing part of my process: setting a goal.

If you’ve ever been in a corporate setting, goal setting almost always references making them SMART. It may be overused, but it’s a great framework for creating a goal that can be achieved. None of what I explain here is groundbreaking, and there are probably many better ways to explain. But here are my thoughts on what a SMART goal is.

SMART Goal Breakdown

• Specific
  • The goal needs to have enough detail and be targeted to know what you are working towards and if you are successful. Without specifics, I would be moving around without direction, or at least not knowing if I am going in the right direction towards my ultimate result.
    • Not specific: I want to start a side hustle
    • Specific: I want to sell woodworking products I make
• Measurable
  • The goal needs to have some metric that can be tracked to mark your progress and if you ultimately achieve it. This progress marker is key to accountability and motivation. If I see some progress, I am far more likely to keep going. If I don’t know where I stand, then it gets easier to stop.
    • Not measureable: I want to make money
    • Measurable: I want to earn $1000 in profit
• Attainable
  • The goal needs to be reasonable. If it isn’t, you won’t achieve it or you won’t complete it in a reasonable time frame to keep you engaged and interested.
    • Not attainable: I want to quit my job today and make twice my salary selling on Etsy
    • Attainable: I want create an additional income stream
• Relevant
  • The goal needs to keep you engaged. If you don’t really care about it you won’t push through the challenges or the times of slow progress.
    • Not relevant: I want to create realistic miniature wax figures of K-pop celebrities
    • Relevant: I want to create things out of wood
• Time Driven
  • This part is the real secret to success. If you can dial in this part of the goal it will help drive you to the finish. There needs to be a reasonable deadline. Too soon and it will destroy you confidence. Too far out and you will not be pushed to show progress or benefit from your gains. The deadline will also help you create intermediate steps.
    • Not time driven: I want to start a woodworking business
    • Time Driven: I want to sell my first woodworking product in 6 months

SMARTer Goals

One other way to hack your goals a bit further is how you write them. I’m not sure I believe in manifestation, but I do believe our brains react differently to the words we use. So instead of writing “I want to…” write “I will… .” It’s such a minor tweak, but I think it adds a significant amount of value.

Let’s put it all together. Here is my SMART goal:

I will sell $1000 worth of woodworking projects by September 1.

My SMART Goal

Why $1000? First it, feels significant but not out of reach. One hundred or even $500 would probably provide enough positive feedback to keep me going, but $1000 would be a milestone that makes me feel like I achieved something and have enough momentum to set the next big goal. There is a practical reason for the $1000 benchmark as well: I really want to purchase a table saw. And the one I want – the SawStop CTS – will cost that much.

I debated adding that end result to my goal, but decided not to in order to keep it a little simpler. But having a reason to spend the profits is further motivation and accountability. And it provides a tangible reward for my efforts. When I achieve this goal (there I go again manifesting…) every time I look at and use the table saw, I will know what led me there.

Action Starters

• What goals are you setting this season?
• Do you have any tips or tricks that help keep you on track for your goals?
• Is there a reward you are looking to earn with your efforts?

Go start something!