Make all my goals S.M.A.R.T.

First I have to get more goals added to my list, then I’ll make sure they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.

My goals are not to be confused with an occasional fun thing on this 43 Things “Life List”.

Close enough ! I know what’s what with my goals now after a re-jig anyway.

1. streamline
As this is my one-word resolution for 2009 and as such, I do not think it needs to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Measurable or Timely – past that I will analyze how I’ve done at the end of ‘09.

2. exercise for at least 10 minutes a day
S? Yes, this is specific.
M? Yes, this is measurable.
A? Yes, this is attainable.
R? Yes, this is realistic.
T? No, this is not timely.
Conclusion The issue with this goal is that there is no end date and thus it can never be completed. I will consider changing this or admending this to a goal along the lines of “keep a daily exercise diary for 30 days” – also, that may help me feel like I am making progress (i.e. measurable) since I could then look back on my workouts and see that things got easier and how I was feeling when I didn’t work out, etc.

3. learn how to apply makeup better
S? No, this goal is not Specific.
M? No, this goal is not Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion Althogh I know I have gotten better with make-up, I need to be more specific about what this actually means.

4. go through my wardrobe and donate things I’ll never wear again
S? Yes, this goal is Specific.
M? Yes, this goal is Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion Basically, I just need to hop to this. I am hereby giving myself a deadline of 2 weeks (March 8, 2009) to do this. I’ll set a 43T reminder.

5. make all my goals S.M.A.R.T.
S? Yes, this goal is Specific.
M? Yes, this goal is Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion Hopefully soon after completing this entry I will be able to mark this off.

6. identify and rid myself of 43 items of überclutter
S? Yes, this goal is Specific.
M? Yes, this goal is Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion I just need to add a timeframe on this – I’ll say by the end of 2009… which leaves me with about 44 weeks left, which should be just fine.

7. actually do something with the domains i own
S? No, this goal is not Specific.
M? No, this goal is not Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion I need to determine exactly what my next steps for this are. I believe this would be to get a host, as currently I just have the domains registered. Maybe I should write the sites first though… hmm, maybe “create sites for each of the domains I own” and “acquire a host for my domains” should both be seperate goals.

8. update my resume
S? Yes, this goal is Specific.
M? Yes, this goal is Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion I think I was waiting to do my review at work when I did this, especially since I’m getting a title promotion, but maybe it would be better to do this first to have fodder for the review? I will give myself one (1) month to do this (March 22, 2009).

9. improve my time management skills
S? No, this goal is not Specific.
M? No, this goal is not Measurable.
A? No, this goal is not Attainable.
R? No, this goal is not Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion Wow! Complete F as far as S.M.A.R.T. goes. I think I will just remove this from my list and focus on what specific strategies I want to implement (GTD or whatever)

10. leave work by 6:30pm consistently
S? Yes, this goal is Specific.
M? Yes, this goal is Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion I need to make some kind of timeline for this – 30 days or 30 consecutive days or something. Maybe 30 days will be better to allow for some errant days.

11. have clear skin
S? No, this goal is not Specific.
M? No, this goal is not Measurable.
A? No, this goal is not Attainable.
R? No, this goal is not Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion This needs to go, as badly as I want it. I will have to replace it with some of the strategies I implement to help my skin.

12. record and improve my measurements weekly
S? Yes, this goal is Specific.
M? Yes, this goal is Measurable (insofar as “improve” translates to “reduce”)
A? No, this goal is not Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion I wonder if I need to switch this out for “have 25” waist” or something… with a timeline of course.

13. seriously consider bangs
S? No, this goal is not Specific.
M? No, this goal is not Measurable.
A? No, this goal is not Attainable.
R? No, this goal is not Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion This needs to go – besides the fact that I’m pretty sure I want to wait a few years before I go for bangs… or whenever I decide to cut my hair, which is not yet.

14. complete my to-do list daily
S? Yes, this goal is Specific.
M? Yes, this goal is Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion I just need to add a timeline to this… let’s say 30 days (not necessarily consecutive, but as close to it as I can). This can also replace “improve my time management skills” since it’s the same principle.

15. bring my houseplants back to life
S? Yes, this goal is Specific.
M? No, this goal is not Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion There is no end consequence other than if they die completely and I have to throw them out… not really sure how to change this. I will keep taking care of them for as long as they stay alive. I guess this might not need to be a goal, but I want it to be so it stays. :P

16. keep track of all the movies I watch in 2009
S? Yes, this goal is Specific.
M? Yes, this goal is Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? Yes, this goal is Timely.
Conclusion A good one! Yay.

17. read at least 4 books a month in 2009
S? Yes, this goal is Specific.
M? Yes, this goal is Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? Yes, this goal is Timely.
Conclusion Yep, good to go (or stay, I guess :) )

18. keep track of all the books I read in 2009
S? Yes, this goal is Specific.
M? Yes, this goal is Measurable.
A? Yes, this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, this goal is Realistic.
T? Yes, this goal is Timely.
Conclusion A-OK.

19. support my husband in reaching his goals, too!
S? No, this goal is not Specific.
M? No, this goal is not Measurable.
A? Yes, I hope this goal is Attainable.
R? Yes, I hope this goal is Realistic.
T? No, this goal is not Timely.
Conclusion This just needs to stay because it’s SO important. Maybe I can try to do at least one conscious thing a week to help?

A system I found devised sorting items into goal setting & planning. They said to look for things that you feel bad about, then to create a corresponding goal to help fix it.

sort things into material goals, family & friends, intellectual, health, leisure, spiritual, creative and emotional goals. Find what your dreams are, your little comforts. Then, select which goals to actually work on by evaluating them. Once you make your list of goals, use a numbering system to prioritize …. it goes like this:
1. evaluate the intensity of desire for each goal on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest) and writing that number next to each goal.
2. evaluate the costs (financial or stress) involved in achieving that goal on a 1-5 scale (5 being the most taxing) and writing that number next to each goal in a different color ink.
3. next, look at blocking factors or impediments that would hold you back in getting your goal completed on a scale of 1-5 (5 being a major obstacle) and add this number to what you wrote for step #2.
4. Subtract that sum from your first number.

Now, any goal that has a positive number probably has a chance at being completed.

5. Now, determine your goals into one of the following three categories: long-range, medium-range and immediate.

I’ve got a lot of goals on my list
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely
...

Not many of my goals meet this. “Make new Friends”. OK—it’s measurable, count the number of friends you’ve got. Is it specific? What constitutes a friend? Achievable & realistic? I’d say yes, although since I work almost full time and am taking two classes, it’s difficult to make the time. That’s true for most of my goals, though. Timely—that’s the sticking point for most of my goals— I don’t set deadlines for them. So how many friends should I make by the end of the year? If I meet my “quota”, should I keep going? What about past that? Is it a one shot deal? I’d think it would be something that you’d just try to live up to throughout your life, rather than a goal that you check off a list when you’re done. That’s the problem. I don’t really want to get rid of them—they’re important to pursue. They just don’t belong on a list with really specific, measurable (and timely!) stuff like “run a half marathon” which you can definitely check off as having done, even if you plan on doing it again.

And so, the cull begins. ;)

First step is to make my goals specific, but still part of a larger goal. This might be tricky, because of the way 43things works.

I’ve reset my goal-setter to align all goals with the SMART principles. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely. It feels good to make goals and reach them using a specific and measurable system.

How can you measure things like self esteem and not feeling ugly?

With a background in organizational and people development, I’ve taught the SMART principles. Lately I’ve been a slacker and haven’t been using this concept. I’m back on the SMART course now.
1. Specific
2. Measurable
3. Achievable
4. Realistic
5. Time framed

I am going to make sure all of my goals are SMART
for sure. Perhaps this will make them more achievable!!! Now I have to go through my list here and critique each goal to fit SMART!!

SMART.
1. Specific
2. Measurable
3. Achievable
4. Realistic
5. Time framed