Be S.M.A.R.T.: How a Clear Plan Turns Goals into Reality

It All Starts with a Plan

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Achieving your goals is an important process for personal growth and promoting success. To stack the odds in your favor, I recommend the S.M.A.R.T. approach.

This method is simple and straightforward. S.M.A.R.T. will help you define your goals in a Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound way.

Here's How It Works:

Specific:

A clearly defined goal has a much better chance of being achieved than a vague one. To set a specific goal, it's best to answer these six questions:

• Who? Or With whom?

• What? What exactly do I want to accomplish?

• Where? At what location?

• When? Set a deadline.

• How? Identify requirements and constraints. Think about ressources and possibilities.

• Why? Understand the reasons and benefits for wanting to achieve this. Goals are more likely to have a positive impact on your wellbeing if they are set for intrinsic reasons (steming from internal desires and personal values rather than external rewards or pressures).

For example, compare:
- "I'd like to earn a higher salary" versus
- "I’d like to increase my monthly salary by $1,000 by the end of next year."
The second is clearly more specific. Don’t forget to outline why you want this increase and what you'll do to deserve it.

Measurable:

A measurable goal allows you to track progress and make your success tangible. It helps you answer the question: "How much?"

For instance, it’s hard to measure success with a vague goal like "be happier." But if you've defined what happiness means—like "go on a date night once a week"—you now have clear evidence of progress.

Refining your goal helps clarify exactly what you want. Knowing how your goal can manifest in real life makes it more achievable.

Achievable:

Once your goals are clear, you can analyze how to achieve them. This might involve developing physical, psychological, or financial skills that elevate your capacity. However, your goal must still be attainable within your limitations—considering costs (physical, financial, and time-related) and the effort required.

You also need to factor in how this goal might affect other commitments and priorities in your life.
Ask yourself: what actions are necessary for success? Sometimes, even if a goal feels impossible, the right tools make it reachable. Stay positive and go for it!

Realistic:

Your goal should also be realistic. It’s not enough to choose methods that are accessible—you also need to be willing and able to follow through. Keep in mind that a realistic goal doesn’t mean it has to be low-level.

Your goal can be both ambitious and attainable if you’re truly motivated. In fact, harder goals can be easier to reach because they push us to invest more passion and energy. Don’t be afraid to raise the bar!

Time-bound:

Finally, create a calendar and action plan. Set a deadline to increase your commitment. Be careful not to give yourself too much or too little time—it could discourage you. Use your past successes to gauge a reasonable timeline.

Vague timelines like "soon" or "someday" won’t push you to act.
Instead, say something like: "I’ll start training on August 1st." This is a great first step toward a fitness goal. Write it in your planner—it becomes a non-negotiable appointment with yourself.

In Summary:

Let’s practice creating a S.M.A.R.T. plan together, using a common example: running a 5K.

Specific:
“I want to run the 5K happening on October 8 during the Run Together Against Breast Cancer. This will help me build and maintain healthy daily habits and run for a cause that is important to me and my family.”

Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound:
To reach my goal, I’ll train three times a week, increasing my distance by 500 meters each week. My training will take 10 weeks to complete, starting on August 1 to be ready for October 8. I’ll choose training times that fit around my other responsibilities.

If you follow these steps when setting goals, you’re much more likely to achieve them. Be S.M.A.R.T. !

References:

- Meyer, P. J. (2003). What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? Creating SMART Goals. Attitude is everything: If you want to succeed above and beyond.