S.M.A.R.T.

Always want to accomplish something, but didn't know where to start?  Maybe you needed to gain some motivation to accomplish something in your life.  Goals, both short term and long term, allow people (including myself) to accomplish what we wish to set out for. They allow us to stay on task and give us guidance on how we are to achieve our goals.  How do we set goals?  Through a simple acronym which I practice with all my goals, S.M.A.R.T.  By using this methodology in creating your success, you will see just how easy it really is, and how it helps to guide you on your way. The best goals made in life will follow all this processes below:


Specific - Be specific in what you set out to achieve.  It is the Who? What? Where? When? Why?  Do not make a broad goal such as:  I want to lose weight.  be more specific such as: I want to lose 10 lbs. 

Measurable - One should be able to monitor their progress throughout the pathway towards their goal.  Whether it be through a training log or monitoring ones weight loss weekly, by seeing progression, ones commitment to fulfilling their goal increases.

Attainable - Make sure that you are able to accomplish the goals you set.  Furthermore, make sure that the goals you create are of importance to you.  You will feel more obliged to accomplish a goal if you go at it with best intentions.  If you set a goal which is too far out of reach, you may not commit to doing it.  You need to stretch yourself a bit, but not too much.

Realistic - Do not over-exaggerate your potential.  I know for a fact that I could not qualify for the Olympics next year, so why set a goal to do so?  Creating unrealistic goals may set you up for failure.  Losing 10 lbs in 4 weeks is realistic whereas losing 10 lbs in 3 days may set you up for disaster.

Timely - If you do not set a time frame for a goal, then you do not have a due date.  Most of us are procrastinators and if you do not set a date, you will never start. A commitment without a time frame is too vague.

So what is my SMART goal?

I will finish a Half Ironman distance race in June 2011 in under 5 hours.


S - Finish Half Ironman distance race
M - Training Journal
A - Attainable? Yes.
R - Realistic? Yes.
T - Due date - June 2011

Be S.M.A.R.T.!