How do you plan your goals?

I’ve always been a top down processor. I see the vision of the end goal, then break it down from there. I haven’t always been able to break it down and it took a long time to learn how to make it easier for my brain. I actually believe it took meeting Steve to get myself on track and learn how to counter procrastination stemming from freeze mode.

When Steve and I started dating, we seemed to have a similar idea of where we were headed in life. We wanted safety, stability, love, and abundance. We didn’t actually have a clear picture to start off with, and we continue to build the picture in an ever evolving manner today.

Having goals doesn’t have to be set in stone. You can change the view if a part of it doesn’t suit the purpose any longer. It’s good to be flexible and be able to pivot when needed. There have been some set backs but we always rise out of the ashes like the phoenix.

What is the trick? SMART GOALS!

Let’s start at the top

Specific:

When creating your goal, it pays to be specific. Instead of “I want to go on a holiday,” it would be “I want to go on a holiday to Fiji in October when the weather is nicer and it’s less likely to have cyclones occur.” A holiday is nice but when you paint a picture, you’ve got more invested in the end result and you’re more likely to attain that goal.

Measurable:

How could you measure your success on this goal? I suppose the measure would be saving up every week/fortnight/month for the budget, getting your passports and purchasing your tickets and accommodation, packing your bags after writing a list, and getting on that plane. All these things, you can tick off when you get there, all step by step towards that end result.

Achievable:

The goal you set must be achievable. If the goal is too lofty, you may not be able to attain it. In contrast, if the goal is not challenging, you may get bored and not attain the end goal either. Make sure your goal is something you can achieve incrementally over time and you are stretched just enough to get there and avoid disappointment.

Realistic:

The goal must also be realistic. Perhaps bringing people back from the dead is not something that anyone can do just yet. A holiday to Fiji is something many people have done in the past and as long as the social and political climate of the country is ok, then there should not be a problem with getting there. Ensure you are not going outside the boundaries of real life.

Timely:

Lastly, we have the timely question. If you set yourself a 12 month goal to save up for a family holiday and get the passports, then you may have yourself a SMART goal. If you set yourself a 1 week goal, you probably have set yourself up for failure. Think about how much time you need to meet the goal and then set yourself up for meeting it on time. The thing about a holiday, you have to book dates and if you set those dates and meet them, you will be winning!

You don’t have to spend every single moment on one goal. Steve and I have several we have achieved and several more going on in the back ground. The one thing Steve and I do is have regular barefoot dates as we like to keep our fingers on the pulse of our financial, personal, and family goals. Yes, even saving $1,000 in 6 months can be a goal. Completing a unit of a course in 10 weeks can be a goal. Getting to that family holiday can be a goal. Paying your months bills and seeing a slight improvement can be a goal if you’re starting over again.

No matter what the goal, make it specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. The goal will move itself into fruition if you commit to small, incremental steps continuously.

For now, I will leave you with this thought:

“A goal without a plan is only a dream“

Brian Tracy

Until tomorrow, KT18Ø