So this month’s blog is dedicated to goal-setting. Why? For a number of reasons. Spring is upon so it’s the perfect time to start fresh. Also, many times we are so boxed in by old habits that it’s very difficult to think outside the box. So I want you to used this opportunity to start fresh. Create a new goals. Go about accomplishing them differently to see if you have an improved end result.
Step #1– Do a brain dump of different goals you want to achieve. That means a comprehensive list… whether they’re short-term or long-term. Just get them out of your head and onto either paper, a digital document, an app, etc… the method of your choice.
Step #2- Narrow your brain dump list down to the one short-term goal you want to achieve first. Use that one as your guinea pig as I explain this process.
Step #3– Convert that one goal into a SMART goal using the criteria below. The concept/acronym SMART was developed by Peter Drucker in 1954 and means the following:
- SPECIFIC- make your goal as specific as possible
- MEASURABLE- determine some type of measure so you know if/when you achieve it
- ACCEPTABLE- make sure your goal is feasible in terms of resources available to you
- REALISTIC-focus on the end result and make sure it’s achievable
- TIME-BOUND- Give yourself a deadline.
Step #4– List the tasks required to complete the SMART goal. Now it’s time for you to do yet another brain dump but this time you need to list any and all activities/steps you need to complete in order to achieve your goal. They don’t need to be in any type of order. Again, just get them out of your head and onto paper/document.
Step #5– Once the brain dump of steps is completed, list those tasks in sequential order. This step does not have to be perfect. In fact, you’ll probably tweak them along the way.
Step #6– Estimate/document how long each step will take. In my opinion, this is one of the most difficult steps of this process. It’s tough but just give it your best guess. Will each task take 15 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours? You need to estimate how long each task will take so you can schedule them accordingly… particularly if you’re scheduling them on your calendar as I do.
Step #7- JUST DO IT & REVIEW IT. This final step is really a 2 parter. The first half is to just dive in. Don’t procrastinate and don’t let perfection stand in the way. Just start taking those steps. At some point, you need to review your to-do list because things can change in a heartbeat from one day to the next. This is the second part… review. Personally, I chose to review them at the end of each day so I start the next day knowing what I want/need to accomplish. Others choose to do it weekly. In my opinion, there’s no right answer regarding your frequency as long as you do it!
I hope these steps have given you some ideas that you’ve never tried before or perhaps or had forgotten about. I hope you use them and that they bring you one step closer to achieving your goals…
Quote: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” ~ Benjamin Franklin ~
Brenda Tringali, Productivity & Organizing Consultant
At Your Fingertips Organizing
Serving Greater Myrtle Beach, SC or “virtually” anywhere (via phone/video)
Cell/Text: 603.490.6062
Email: Brenda@AtYourFingertipsOrganizing.com
Web: www.AtYourFingertipsOrganizing.com
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Brenda Tringali is the owner of At Your Fingertips Organizing. She provides Life/Workplace/Residential Organizing & Productivity services to clients in the Myrtle Beach, SC area & “virtually” anywhere via video, phone, etc. Brenda is an active member of NAPO (National Association of Productivity and Organizing professionals). She is also Chair of the NAPOCares Committee which highlights the community outreach efforts of NAPO members, NAPO Chapters, and NAPO Business Partners as they reach out to share the three “T’s” of Social Responsibility: their Time, Treasures, and Talents.