43 Things

Eynar Oxartum slɐoƃ sıɥ ɥɔɐǝɹ oʇ ʇsnɾ uʍop ǝpısdn sı

This is actually about goals, in general, not just about this goal.

Thinking about “goal-design” (smart goals and so, where SMART usually stands for S-pecific, M-easurable, A-chievable, R-ealistic and T-ime framed), I was checking what people say in internet about this (until some days ago I didn’t know they could be known with a backronym as “smart” goals). I have found that some people include E-xciting and R-ewarding to make “smarter” goals. And many more versions, of course.

Thinking about a new definition that suits more my point of view, I found the following: A-chievable is close to R-ealistic, and E-xciting is close to R-ewarding, so using just one of each and including three more ingredients (an interesting goal shouldn’t be too easy, should be split into smaller goals and should be reprogrammable, as everything should be reprogrammable, because life is always changing), I have got what I call “smartest” goals:

Specific
Measurable
Achievable (= Realistic = Not too difficult)
Reprogrammable (= Transformable)
Time framed (= With deadline)
Exciting (= Motivating = Rewarding = Interesting)
Split into smaller goals
Tough (= Not too easy = Challenging)

Which of course is not new (as I have seen again in internet after thinking I created something new), but at least it suits my philosophy about how goals should be. Of course everybody has to find his/her own philosophy (different people’s mind works in a different way), so I’m not saying I’m the smartest guy here. For somebody else it might be different.

Jun 04, 2008, 01:42AM PDT | 8 cheers

Comments:

simpler21

True true!

That’s right.

So taking your piano example. By wrapping an achievable and timebound objective around it, it becomes more real and that can increase the external motivation to do it.

But I’m thinking – what about the internal motiviation? i.e where within my “goal design” (nice phrase, that), is the reason for doing that thing.

So when it comes to your example.
Playing the concerto by new years eve. Why do I want to do it right?

I guess there could be many benefits to playing. Some might be
“to help me relax. open up my creative side. Be able to read music better. To motivate me to play more or perhaps start to learn to experiment and write more music”

If one of my values was to entertain others. I might get more out of my goal if I added for “40 of my friends”...So you’re right. The goal design must be related to higher level goal selection.

For that reason for every goal, I write a corresponding 2 line benefit statement that reminds me why the hell I’m doing it in the first place. If I can’t think of a good benefit statement, I revise the goal.

I used to be really goal-oriented. I’ve lost my discipline a little and need to re-create my next 90 day goal framework.

Do you use some sort of template to write your goals down? I have one. Be happy to share it with you if you’re interested?

Aug 15, 2008, 08:50PM PDT | Parent | Respond to this 3 cheers

Eynar Oxartum slɐoƃ sıɥ ɥɔɐǝɹ oʇ ʇsnɾ uʍop ǝpısdn sı

I see your point

You are right. Motivation is everything. And the problem is that sometimes we forget the original motivation, the reason to do something, which is actually the most important thing.

Some people believe there exists something called willpower, and they use the lack of it as an excuse (“I have not enough willpower to do that”). But I don’t think there exists such a thing. I think only exists motivation, which by the way is something we can control and grow.

When I thought about SMARTEST I considered this, and that’s why I used Exciting (= Motivating = Rewarding = Interesting), as I wanted to use M for “measurable”. But it doesn’t give the same impression. Should we speak about SMMARTEST? Hm…

Aug 18, 2008, 09:57AM PDT | Respond to this

Comments:

True true!

I see your point

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