Tweet

The Big Mistakes in Goal Setting

Written by: Jeanna Gabellini

Article Overview: The way most of us were taught to set goals could very well be the set up for disappointment. We've always been told in business seminars to write S.M.A.R.T goals. There are different versions of the acronym below but mostly you'll see it like this: Specific Measurable Attainable Risky, Realistic or Relevant (depending on who's teaching) Timely To all of the above I say...rubbish!

The Big Mistakes in Goal Setting

The way most of us were taught to set goals could very well be the set up for disappointment. We've always been told in business seminars to write S.M.A.R.T goals. There are different versions of the acronym below but mostly you'll see it like this: Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Risky, Realistic or Relevant (depending on who's teaching)

Timely

To all of the above I say...rubbish!

In some cases a goal designed from the SMART model will work. For most people, most of the time, there needs to be less structure when setting a goal. Every person has to set a target based on where they are right now. This is mostly dependent on their emotional reactions to the goal, not their history of success regarding the area of focus.

Let me break this down step-by-step.

Specific - Yes, be specific as possible regarding your goal or desire. You are literally giving an order to the Universe about what to deliver to you. But if you only have a vague idea of what you want, that's fine! If you want to move, but have no idea about where, just be clear on some of the attributes your new location will have. You may only be clear that you want it to be sunny with friendly people. If that's all you know, then that's enough. If you begin to push yourself to be more detailed you'll run into resistance, which is not good for goal setting. ;-)

Measurable - If you can quantify the goal, do it. For some of us (like me), it makes the goal feel more concrete and creates excitement. But if it creates pressure, let it go or back off a bit. If you really want to attract $10,000 in new income but it sounds scary when you say it, maybe state it as $1000 increments until you reach the target.

Attainable - Everything is attainable. Period. A better question is, "Do I believe this is possible for me right now?" If not, again, back off a bit and then build up your belief.

Risky, Realistic or Relevant - None of these matter. Do you really want the goal or not? If you do, then that's what makes it a great thing to go after. Who gives a rip if it's a stretch for you or it's a side tangent. If it brings you delight before, during and after you manifest it, then go for it.

Timely - If setting a target date to manifest the goal creates enthusiasm, do it! If a deadline stresses you out or makes you fear failure, remove it! Hold a time frame lightly. If your goal manifests a day or two late would that be terrible? When you get attached to a certain date and it causes stress, it can be the biggest obstacle to attracting that goal fast.

Goal setting should be fun. It should feel like a fun game. If it's not, re-evaluate the goal itself, or look at the way you are thinking you need to be, or what you have to do to get the goal. Sometimes the goal is perfect but we perceive struggle in getting it. Let go of all the rules and have big amounts of fun.

Related Articles
  The \"Sales Goals Motivate\" Myth
  Top 7 Mistakes that Prevent People from Achieving
  Steps to Reach Your Goal!
  How to Set Goals
  Most successful people set goals. How about you?

Article Tags: acronym, attributes, belief, business seminars, desire, disappointment, emotional reactions, excitement, increments, new location, resistance, rubbish, target, universe, vague idea



Related Forum Posts
Re: What are your January Goals? - Here's a quick update on mine: Goal #1: Hire New Writer = done - Post job description on oDesk - Set up trial job - Pick top candidate Goal #2: Follow up with Clients = done - Create and send quarterly report - Touch base with last year's clients - Follow up with 4 connectors Goal #3: PERSONAL = about 70% done on the month - Do something nice for my wife each week - Exercise 4 times per week - Daily stretch - want to touch my toes
Re: How do you monitor what people say about you in the web? - Setting up Google alerts for your keywords can give updates about your site. Also the publicity you create in the social media sites will do help too
Re: What is Your Favorite Thing About Owning A Business? - 1. Not feeling like I have to get approval for anything. 2. Not feeling like I have to please anyone. 3. Not having to ask permission before I do something. 4. Setting my own hours. 5. Sounding really cool when I tell people I have my own business.
EvanCarmichael.com suggestion - Maybe I missed it but I would like to suggest that a Blog be created to support the Forum. The idea is that in the blog you put in snippets of some of the biggest conversations with a 'read more' link to the forum itself. Setting up the Blog and clipping some conversations onto it wouldn't take very long.
Re: how do I get started with Wordpress blog? - GoDaddy is another hosting company that works in conjunction with WordPress.org and makes set up a snap. For those of you entrepreneurs who are hesitant in setting up a WordPress blog due to time constraints or for whatever reason, I can help you with that. Setting up WordPress blogs is one of the services I provide, as well as maintaining it for you. Contact me for more information.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

The State of the Sustainable Furniture Industry

How To Improve Your CTA (Call To Action)

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.