Mastering Goal Setting: A Guide to Winning Your Future

Setting goals gets us in the mindset to move forward in our personal lives and careers. Without goals we become stagnant and complacent in what we are currently doing which, let’s be honest, is just not enjoyable. Working toward something new or better keeps us motivated to always be working on becoming the best we can possibly be. But setting goals is not as straightforward as writing down all the things we want in life.

“A dream without a plan is just a wish.” Katherine Paterson

So, how do you turn all those dreams into actionable goals? We have found three ways that actually work. Try them all and determine which one works best for you, given different situations.

SMART

SMART is an acronym for:

·        Specific

·        Measurable

·        Attainable

·        Realistic

·        Timely

SMART goals take a quantitative approach to goal setting. Using dates and numeric metrics to measure success, SMART goals work well for things that can be quantified. While it is possible to quantify becoming more positive with the help of some great apps and surveys, SMART goals are intended for goals that have a numbers-based approach. More specifically, SMART goals are...

Specific

A goal should target a specific area of improvement. Setting a goal of “getting healthy” or “earning more money” is not specific enough to be a clear goal. Take a harder look at what it is that you are trying to accomplish - are you looking to lose weight, reduce blood pressure, land more clients, or increase profits? There is always something deeper behind the initial goal you have in mind.

Measurable

As a number nerd, being able to measure a goal is definitely my favorite part of SMART goals. Everything can be measured if you think about it long enough. And, many things can be measured in many ways, so it is important to understand the one that is right for your circumstances.

Using the examples above... 

Ø  Losing weight can be tracked in pounds, body fat percentage, or inches lost.

Ø  Blood pressure is already measured in numbers, so that one is easy to track.

Ø  Landing more clients can be measured in total billable hours, total number of new contracts, or end-of-the-month profits.

Ø  Increasing profits can be measured by gross profits or net profits.

Find a way to put a number to your goal.

Attainable

Your goal should be attainable. Push yourself a bit when setting the goal, but make sure it is something you can complete. Deciding to increase profits by working 100 hours a week may be attainable if you think hard enough about it, but honestly, it is just not.

Realistic

Realistic piggybacks on attainable. Just because something may be attainable, is it realistic? You may be capable of losing 30 pounds, but if you only need to lose 20, then it is not realistic. Tripling your monthly income by working three times more hours may be attainable, but it is not realistic.

Timely

The final step is to put time constraints on your goal. A goal without a deadline is just a dream. Your first goal of getting healthy is now: Lose 20 pounds in 10 months. So long as you have 20 pounds to lose and the time and resources to dedicate to the goal, you have created a SMART goal. Earning more money is now: Increase my rates by 20% and land 10 new clients at the higher rate to double my monthly income by the end of 3 months. Assuming you can handle 10 new clients, this is a SMART goal.

WOOP

WOOP is an acronym for:

·        Wish

·        Outcome

·        Obstacle

·        Plan

WOOP goals take the power of daydreams and help you analyze them through an “angel on one shoulder and devil on the other” approach. By looking at your wishes from both perspectives, you can come up with a solid plan to achieve your wishes while being practical in your application. The WOOP method is...

Wish

The first step in the WOOP process is to come up with your wish. This is essentially the ‘goal’ you are looking to achieve. One caveat of the WOOP strategy is that you should wish for something that could be accomplished within the next four weeks. Something realistic but that will push you to work hard.

Outcome

Next, imagine what difference achieving your wish would make in your life. List out all the ways in which your life would improve and what new position you could be in. This is your time to daydream and be optimistic. Take it a step further and write out a list of things you are grateful for as if you have already achieved your wish.

Obstacle

Now it is time to be a pessimist. Think of all the obstacles standing in your way - time, money, self-doubt, lack of support. Write each of these obstacles down no matter how small. Make sure to include both external obstacles and internal obstacles. Sometimes finding more time is easier than finding the belief within yourself that you can make it happen.

Plan

Finally, plan your process to achieve your wish. Write out each step you will take and include ways you will overcome each of the obstacles you found in the last section. Take special care in deciding the best way to battle those inner obstacles that stand in your way.

HARD

HARD is an acronym for:

·        Heartfelt

·        Animated

·        Required

·        Difficult

HARD goals are mostly used within a business context, but can be applied anywhere. With HARD goals you have to determine your reason for the goal and everything you need to accomplish your goal. When using HARD goals, we recommend going in the AHDR order since it flows better. HARD goals are…

Heartfelt

Come up with the most important reasons why you want this goal. These are your ‘whys’, the behind the scenes look as to why this goal matters to you. Come up with at least 3 for each goal so that you can look back and remind yourself why you started when things get tough.

Animated

Take some time to reflect on what you want to be doing at a given time from now. This is the goal-setting part of the exercise. Imagine what you want and determine how it is different from now - maybe you earn more money at your current job or maybe you switch careers or get a promotion. There is no wrong answer so determine what you really want and not just what you think you should want.

Required

Determine all the required steps that you need to take to reach your goal. Set deadlines for each of the steps to keep you on track - what do you need to do now, or in 3 months, to make sure you reach your goal by the designated time?

Difficult

What will be the most difficult part of reaching your goal? This could be learning new skills or becoming uncomfortable with new situations. Clarify what those difficulties entail and what you can do to move through them as they arise.

In Conclusion

If one of these techniques, or a combination of these techniques, resonates with you more than another then absolutely use what feels right. There is no right way to set goals but by using these methods you can turn your dreams into actionable goals that have a path to achievement.

Remember that giant goals need to be broken down into a few smaller goals. Each of those smaller goals should always be focused on the end goal, and each needs a plan. Using one of the methods will help keep you accountable for each step along the process.

Effective goal setting requires strategy, reflection, and commitment. It’s about breaking down ambitions into actionable steps and staying flexible along the way. When done right, setting goals transforms aspirations into reality, ensuring we are always growing, evolving, and striving for something greater.