Where did 2018 go?
Are you ready for the new year?
Is your business ready for the new year?
Lucky for you, we have time to set our intentions and establish our goals before the start of 2019. Success happens with a plan. So, let's end the year and start the next with a clear plan of action.
While we all hear and read that we should be intentional about our lives and our businesses, many times we are missing a method to make this a reality. Given this, instead of merely writing about the value of establishing goals, I want to share one of the strategies I use in my business and life to create my goals, specifically the S.M.A.R.T. goal technique by G.T. Dolan.
Before using this method, I would set unclear and unrealistic goals. Like all entrepreneurs, I want to "grow my business," but, in the past, I didn't take the time to specify what criteria I needed to track or actions I needed to take to see the growth I desired. However, once I implemented the S.M.A.R.T. goal technique into my planning, my ability to track, achieve, and exceed my goals happened faster and with greater ease.
So, as you approach the new year and set your action plan, vision board, or yearly goals, I highly recommend you use this technique to help you clarify how you will meet (and exceed) your vision for 2019.
Now, let’s review the criteria to create S.M.A.R.T. goals.
S.M.A.R.T. goals must be:
Specific: Be precise in what you want to achieve. General goals won't cut it.
Measurable: Every goal you set should be quantifiable. You want to track your progress and assess what adjustments, if any, need to be made to meet your goal.
Achievable: It’s vital to set goals that are reasonable. You should push yourself beyond your comfort zone, but make sure your goal is realistic.
Relevant: Consider the “big picture” and make sure your goals align with your business or personal needs.
Time-bound: Setting a target date for each goal not only drives you to prioritize its completion, but it also makes it more measurable!
Ready to set your S.M.A.R.T. goals? Love technology?
If you're looking for a way to easily track and manage your goals throughout the year without the use of pen and paper, check out these handy apps!
Goalsontrack: Web-based and mobile app focused on using the S.M.A.R.T. goal method.
ATracker: App that provides insight on how you spend your time to help you prioritize and make time for your goals.
Strides: App that allows you to set and track any goal you want. It has four unique trackers complete with graphs and charts to show your progress.
Now that you have a method, go set your S.M.A.R.T. goals for 2019! If you're open to sharing, feel free to email us at hello at kbennettlaw dot com.
Cheers to a wonderful holiday and a happy and successful new year!
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