Now it is time to go and set some new goals (or adjust the ones you already have) in a way that makes it more likely that you will meet them. To do this, you need to use something known as the SMART formula. Setting goals using this formula has been shown to exponentially increase the success rate.
SMART is an acronym. Here is how it breaks down.
Specific -Each goal should be as specific as possible. Not “I want to write a book someday” but “I want to write and publish a mystery novel.”
Measurable -You should be able to easily measure the goal and see if you succeeded. Do you write the book? Did you save the amount of money you wanted to, and if not, how close did you get?
Achievable -Is this goal something you can attain? Do you have the skills, abilities, and resources to do it? If not, can you get them? Publishing a book is achievable. Becoming the next person to walk on the moon may not be.
Relevant -Is this goal either one of my priorities or related to them? (Do not take sailing lessons this summer if you want to learn mountaineering to climb Mt. Fuji.)
Time-Bound -You need to set a specific date for meeting the goal to give yourself a deadline and some extra motivation. “I want to write and publish a mystery novel in the next five years” is time-bound and meets the other SMART criteria.
Go through each of your priorities and dreams and convert them all into SMART goals. Test them using each part of the formula to make sure they all pass.
Some of your priorities will prove to be too big to fit into a single goal. It is going to require multiple steps to reach these goals. In this case, start with your big overall goal and break it down into sub-goals. If those are still too large, break them down again into smaller pieces.
Some lifetime goals may take three or four levels of sub-goals. Create each of your sub-goals using the SMART formula as well. When you have finished this process, you will have the makings of a roadmap to direct your life and focus your energy to help you get where you want to be in life.
The next step is putting it all together into a plan.