Make a Plan of SMART goals

What is your plan for today, this month, this year, the next five years, is the same as what is your goal for all these time frames. I recently attended a dean’s list ceremony and one of the speakers mention that years ago someone may have asked the question what is your five or ten year goal, then it was narrowed to what is your goal for this year, now with the changing technological era you are being asked, what is your goals for this month. Well if by now you are not setting goals and plans to achieve them, here is a guide that will help you.

Your goals should be SMART, that being Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic or Relevant and Timely.


Specific

Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.
Specific is the What, Why, and How of the SMART model.
• WHAT are you going to do? Use action words such as direct, organize, coordinate, lead, develop, plan, build etc.
• WHY is this important to do at this time? What do you want to ultimately accomplish?
• HOW are you going to do it? (By…)
Ensure the goals you set is very specific, clear and easy. Instead of setting a goal to lose weight or be healthier, set a specific goal to lose 2cm off your waistline or to walk 5 miles at an aerobically challenging pace.

Measurable

If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. In the broadest sense, the whole goal statement is a measure for the project; if the goal is accomplished, this is a success. However, there are usually several short-term or small measurements that can be built into the goal.
Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur. How will you see when you reach your goal? Be specific! “I want to read 3 chapter books of 100 pages on my own before my birthday” shows the specific target to be measure. “I want to be a good reader” is not as measurable.
Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goals.

Attainable

When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop that attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. Your begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.
Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably won’t commit to doing. Although you may start with the best of intentions, the knowledge that it’s too much for you means your subconscious will keep reminding you of this fact and will stop you from even giving it your best.
A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and it will need a real commitment from you. For instance, if you aim to lose 20lbs in one week, we all know that isn’t achievable. But setting a goal to loose 1lb and when you’ve achieved that, aiming to lose a further 1lb, will keep it achievable for you.
The feeling of success which this brings helps you to remain motivated.

Realistic

This is not a synonym for “easy.” Realistic, in this case, means “do-able.” It means that the learning curve is not a vertical slope; that the skills needed to do the work are available; that the project fits with the overall strategy and goals of the organization. A realistic project may push the skills and knowledge of the people working on it but it shouldn’t break them.
Devise a plan or a way of getting there which makes the goal realistic. The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you are at the moment. A goal of never again eating sweets, cakes, crisps and chocolate may not be realistic for someone who really enjoys these foods.
For instance, it may be more realistic to set a goal of eating a piece of fruit each day instead of one sweet item. You can then choose to work towards reducing the amount of sweet products gradually as and when this feels realistic for you.
Be sure to set goals that you can attain with some effort! Too difficult and you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the message that you aren’t very capable. Set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement!

Timely

Set a timeframe for the goal: for next week, in three months, by fifth grade. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.
If you don’t set a time, the commitment is too vague. It tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there’s no urgency to start taking action now.
Time must be measurable, attainable and realistic. Everyone will benefit from goals and objectives if they are SMART. SMART, is the instrument to apply in setting your goals and objectives.

Vision

Let me start this conversation by saying where there is no vision people will perish, I didn’t say it, I found this in Proverbs 29:18. Yes, even in the bible a spiritual inspiration it is noted that we need to have a vision.

Your vision is a dream of what you would like to be and/or achieve; your preferred future state. A vision articulates a view of a realistic, credible and attractive future state better than the one that presently exists. Your vision should encompass all areas of your life, family, finances and work/business.

The starting point of all achievement begins with a dream, in Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich,” he explained how Edwin Barnes Dream of his life secured him a partnership with Thomas A. Edison.

In terms of a financial freedom dream, follow theses suggestions, fix your mind on the exact amount you desire, have clear intention on what you will do with it and establish a definite date when you intend to possess financial freedom.

When I say dream of it, I mean experience your freedom day in your mind/head. See the payday and the payoff day; hold that vision where you will be in the place of total abundance.

Now remember, don’t make your vision a $10 vision when your expense is a $10,000 expense. Dream big, allow your mind to take your where you never dare go and challenge yourself to create a action steps that will inspire you to attract it. (See next message on planning SMART goals)

Start the vision process now, make sure your write down your vision as detailed as possible, and revisit it daily.

Understanding Financial Freedom

Financial Freedom Daily Messages

Many of us have been through emotional depression, harassing creditor/collector calls, bad credit, living from paycheck to paycheck just like I did. Beginning today you can make a difference by refocusing your energies on becoming financially free. Hence, the next question you will have to answer is what is your personal definition of being financially free?

For me being financially free is having wealth in abundance, full of resources and not needing to worry about money. Financial Freedom is not the same as being rich, it is the ability to do and have abundance based on your comfort. One person could enjoy their financial freedom from $15,000 a year, whereas another would be happy with millions of dollars; you choose your freedom level.

Here are seven tips on getting to your desired freedom mark: -

1. Have a vision
2. Create a plan and have SMART goals
3. Have an automatic income generated source
4. Earn more spend less – Think outside the cubicle
5. Find the right leader/mentor
6. Invest in yourself and grow your knowledge
7. Help others achieve their success – I love this one

The next seven post will share more messages on each tip identified in this message. I challenge you to start today, by knowing your financial freedom goal, by when you want to get there and take a look around you to see if you are doing what it takes to accomplish your financial freedom.

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