In today’s installment of our “Goal Posts” series, we will look at whether or not the steps you are taking toward your goal will get you there. Each step should be relevant to your goal. I will be breaking down the process of setting SMART Goals. For a general overview of what SMART GOALS are, check out this post that I wrote a year ago.
SMART goals are written based on criteria using the pneumonic acronym SMART which stands for the following:
- S=Specific
- M=Measurable
- A=Achievable
- R=Relevant
- T=Time
Is it relevant?
Do the steps you are taking, lead toward your goal? Is now the best time to be taking these steps? As a blogger and author, I started out trying to learn too many things at once.
I wanted to learn:
- How to create webinars,
- Web design
- How to market my books.
- SEO (search engine optimization) to get my blog seen by a wider audience
- How to monetize with affiliate marketing
I had to write:
- my books
- content for my blogs
- posts for blogs where I’m a guest writer
- content for newsletters and other material as favors for people I care about
As you can see, I had a lot on my plate, and opportunities abounded for me to get an education in all of the above—and more! The problem was that I was quickly becoming a “Jack of all trades, but master of none.”
I had to pull back the reigns. All of these things were exciting, and yes, they would one day benefit my business, but for now, they overwhelmed me. If you are struggling with the temptation to go in too many directions that aren’t relevant to your goal, put all the irrelevant information in a “someday projects” file. It could be a physical file or a digital one. Then you can pull the file out next year and consider them for your goals then
I’m sure that your goal isn’t being “adequate” at something.
You want to be great!
So, pick the thing(s) that are most relevant to your goal, and master it (or them). Then, you can move on to the next piece of the puzzle. By weeding out things that aren’t relevant to your goal, you can sidestep disaster. This is a great way to avoid burnout and failure, right out of the gate.
Goals should push you and stretch you, but they still need to be achievable. One of the things that will help you achieve them is by slashing from your to-do list the things that aren’t relevant to your goal and your ability to succeed at achieving it.
Your Homework
Make your plan for each goal you have on your list for 2019. Have goals that vary in difficulty. That way you can be buoyed by the success of some of your smaller goals, while you gear up for your big projects. Choose some of your milestones on these harder to accomplish goals and celebrate when you reach them. Reward yourself and anyone who was instrumental in helping you along the way. Goals should be fun!
Next week…
We will set your goal schedule for 2019. Until then, I would love to hear about the goal you are most excited to tackle in 2019. Tell us about it in the comments, below.
What Are YOUR Thoughts?
I’d love to hear in the comment section, below. I appreciate my readers as well as the writing community. To show that appreciation, I use Comment Luv. Just leave a comment below and your latest post will get a link next to it. Thank you!
About Heather Erickson
I am an author, writer, and speaker and homeschooling mom of 3. Since doctors diagnosed my husband, Dan with stage IV lung cancer in 2012, I’ve focused my writing and speaking on helping cancer patients and their families advocate for themselves and live life to the fullest, in spite of their illness. My goal is to help people face cancer with grace. My books are available at Amazon.com:
Facing Cancer as a Friend: How to Support Someone Who Has Cancer
Facing Cancer as a Parent: Helping Your Children Cope with Your Cancer
I also blog about living with cancer at Facing Cancer with Grace.
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