SMART Goals

To complete this week’s S.M.A.R.T. goals assignment please include all of the following
elements:
Step 1: List 3 goals you either have, or would like to have (Financial, Fitness, Career,
Education, Relationship, etc.)
Step 2: Use the S.M.A.R.T goal format to further develop those goals.
Step 3: In 500-750 words (approximately 2-3 pages), explain how the process of
creating a S.M.A.R.T. goal changed the way you look at goals.
Be sure to include all three steps in your assignment.
The requirements below must be met for your paper to be accepted and graded:
• Use APA style.
• Use font size 12 and 1” margins.
• Include cover page.

BELOW IS A REFERENCE AS TO WHAT S.M.A.R.T IS

S.M.A.R.T. goals have been around a long time but have just recently come into the
spotlight. S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable,
Realistic, and Timely. We will discuss these in more detail in a moment. First it’s
essential that you understand that a goal that is very specific has a greater chance of
being achieved than a goal that is vague. The bottom line is that you should understand
how to set S.M.A.R.T. goals if you are planning on making good decisions during your
career.
It’s important to mention at this time that organization’s also use the S.M.A.R.T. goal
format to assist in reaching its strategic plans and objectives.
Let’s discuss each word to have a better understand of what this all means:
Specific – Your goal should be clear and specific, and answer the questions:
What are you going to do?
Why is it important to you?
How are you going to achieve it?
Measurable – Your goals should be able to be measured so you can actually see the
changes that have happened. If you goal cannot be measured, how are you going to
know if you’ve reached it?
Attainable – Your goal should slightly stretch you out of your comfort zone but close
enough that you believe you can reach the goal. If you believe you can reach the goal,
chances are you will commit to attaining the goal. If you set a goal that you know in
your heart you won’t be able to attain, you probably will end up quitting and not reaching
the goal.
Realistic – Your goal should be realistic for you to achieve with some effort. If you
make your goals too challenging, you may just be setting yourself up to fail before you
even begin. It should push you out of your comfort zone, but it should not break you.
Timely – You need to set a clear timeframe for you to achieve your goal to give you
something to work towards. Without a definite beginning or end date, it will become
easy for you to think you can start next week, and then the next week, and so
on. Without a timeframe, there is no sense of urgency to begin.
Example of a General Goal Transferred to the S.M.A.R.T. goal format:
General Goal: I want to lose weight
Transfer to S.M.A.R.T. Goal Format:
Smart = I want to lose 10 pounds by increasing my exercise program
Measurable = to fit into my favorite jeans
Attainable = I will walk on my treadmill for 30 minutes each day
Realistic = I will spend less time watching T.V.
Timely = I will begin tomorrow
Completed S.M.A.R.T. Goal using example above:
I want to lose 10 pounds by increasing my exercise so I can fit into my favorite
jeans. Beginning tomorrow, I will reduce my time watching T.V. to work on my treadmill
for 30 minutes each day. I will be able to fit into my jeans in 30 days.
References
SMART Goal Setting. (n.d.). Goal Setting: Proven Step-By-Step Goal Setting Guide.
Retrieved May 8, 2012, from http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/goal-settingtuto…