For Personal development be SMART!

[MissJmarie]

Someone once told me that to plan your goals (both short term and long term), you have to plan SMART. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bounded. Do any of you here plan SMART? If so, how do you guys do it? How do you make your personal goals SMART? Ideas? And please don’t give me cliché answers. Thanks! ^_^

[Liveman]

Hey, I love how you started this thread.

Being SMART truly is a recipe for success but even more so happiness to everyone from different backgrounds, areas, lifestyles etc.

 

I'm quitting my job at a bank, after being there for the last 7 years of not being happy. I'm only happy when I'm with my customers but that only represents a fraction of my day. The rest is filled with bore, liabilities, stress, uncontrollable amounts of paperwork, bad organization of activities for a wage that is not challenging to earn waiting tables..

 

Anyways my SMART, which i've already started fullfilling;

S- Quit my job. Become a Personal Fitness trainer, my own company and cater specifically to the older adults.

M- Net monthly income of $1,000/month during the 1st 6 months. (Considering young startup)

A- I've just recently passed my Theory exam towards my accreditation 7 days ago, and I have a practical test upcoming.

R- It is realistic. Low start up costs, I have a marketing background in College, lots of business experience from the bank, I only need 10-20 clientele total at a time and this doesn't seem overly difficult to find.

T- 2015. This is my year, I planned it back in Oct/Nov and I AM doing it. Taking the plunge, going for it. I will check my results not until 6 months after launching.

 

 

Also, for anyone who's often here feeling down; Setting these goals for myself and seeing the light even if it is a far ways out has already made everyday that much happier for me!

 

Anyone can do a big change, move cities, careers, lifestyles. Just have your vision and keep it ahead of any negative distortion thoughts. Thanks for reading. Look forward to anyone else' stories

[MissJmarie]

Hey, I love how you started this thread.

Being SMART truly is a recipe for success but even more so happiness to everyone from different backgrounds, areas, lifestyles etc.

 

I'm quitting my job at a bank, after being there for the last 7 years of not being happy. I'm only happy when I'm with my customers but that only represents a fraction of my day. The rest is filled with bore, liabilities, stress, uncontrollable amounts of paperwork, bad organization of activities for a wage that is not challenging to earn waiting tables..

 

Anyways my SMART, which i've already started fullfilling;

S- Quit my job. Become a Personal Fitness trainer, my own company and cater specifically to the older adults.

M- Net monthly income of $1,000/month during the 1st 6 months. (Considering young startup)

A- I've just recently passed my Theory exam towards my accreditation 7 days ago, and I have a practical test upcoming.

R- It is realistic. Low start up costs, I have a marketing background in College, lots of business experience from the bank, I only need 10-20 clientele total at a time and this doesn't seem overly difficult to find.

T- 2015. This is my year, I planned it back in Oct/Nov and I AM doing it. Taking the plunge, going for it. I will check my results not until 6 months after launching.

 

 

Also, for anyone who's often here feeling down; Setting these goals for myself and seeing the light even if it is a far ways out has already made everyday that much happier for me!

 

Anyone can do a big change, move cities, careers, lifestyles. Just have your vision and keep it ahead of any negative distortion thoughts. Thanks for reading. Look forward to anyone else' stories

 

 

Wow I am in awe of you. You have a very great plan too. We need more people like you, so pumped up and willing to take any challenge, it's risky but you'll feel more alive than compared to the bank I bet.

 

I actually have been through what you have too. I'm a registered nurse, it was not my first choice when I got to college, my parents did the decision for me. And when they found out what I was truly passionate about (Archaeology) it was too late because I was in my senior year. (I didn't take my first choice too because it's a course not offered here in the Philippines)

 

Anyway, I went through all 4 years of college, I went through my board exam, I went through working in a hospital too. When I was younger I thought I'll learn to love my profession, don't get me wrong though because I did. It's just not as much as I love Archaeology. In the hospital, I was burnt out probably because of frustration and the super exhausting work. Anyway, I took a risk, made a move to an uncharted island, and stepped away from my comfort zone.

 

I now work as a freelancer, just started this year. I have aims set SMART, I have plans under my aims to be SMARTer (lmao). When I've saved enough I've plans to invest, and hopefully start my own business, like you. I hope you succeed in your newly chosen path, and not have regrets. I hope that if you have your first downfall at this said path, you will rise back up and not contemplate on going back to your old life. Because successful people are the ones who started below and made their way to the top by not giving up. Mistakes will always be there but this does not define failure, surrendering is failure.

 

Godspeed, Liveman!

 

"It's never too late to be who you might have been." - George Eliot

"A Year from now, you will wish you had started today." - Karen Lamb

 

P.S. My mind is set on business mode right now, but as my heart is set on Archaeology, I know I'll always my find my way there.

Edited February 7, 2015 by MissJmarie

[Lion Heart]

We use SMART goals at my workplace.

 

Osmotically I've generalised this practise into many facets of my personal life.

 

My husband finds this type of structure immobilising but I love them. I'm not a square pants but I will say I've done ok esp coming from a highly dysfunctional family.

 

I put the SMART goal into one long sentence.

 

Eg I will save $100 per week for our holiday so that I have $3800 by August 2015.

 

Ofcourse there's homework to do before writing that mere 1 goal completely. You need to get baseline data like know what your income and expenses are and will be. I know my income and expenses year round (more or less with 3 children still at home & 3 outside).

 

The specific nature of SMART goals keep you focussed. In addition to this great practise I use "7 Habits" material for professional and family support. The habits cycle outlined can transform your life. When I let it lapse, I lapse so it's time for me to revisit it all again. Now who borrowed that book??? It also

gets you back on track when the wheels fall off, so to speak.

 

"The harder I work, the luckier I get"

 

Lion Heart.

[hestylim]

Hey, I love how you started this thread.

Being SMART truly is a recipe for success but even more so happiness to everyone from different backgrounds, areas, lifestyles etc.

 

I'm quitting my job at a bank, after being there for the last 7 years of not being happy. I'm only happy when I'm with my customers but that only represents a fraction of my day. The rest is filled with bore, liabilities, stress, uncontrollable amounts of paperwork, bad organization of activities for a wage that is not challenging to earn waiting tables..

 

Anyways my SMART, which i've already started fullfilling;

S- Quit my job. Become a Personal Fitness trainer, my own company and cater specifically to the older adults.

M- Net monthly income of $1,000/month during the 1st 6 months. (Considering young startup)

A- I've just recently passed my Theory exam towards my accreditation 7 days ago, and I have a practical test upcoming.

R- It is realistic. Low start up costs, I have a marketing background in College, lots of business experience from the bank, I only need 10-20 clientele total at a time and this doesn't seem overly difficult to find.

T- 2015. This is my year, I planned it back in Oct/Nov and I AM doing it. Taking the plunge, going for it. I will check my results not until 6 months after launching.

 

 

Also, for anyone who's often here feeling down; Setting these goals for myself and seeing the light even if it is a far ways out has already made everyday that much happier for me!

 

Anyone can do a big change, move cities, careers, lifestyles. Just have your vision and keep it ahead of any negative distortion thoughts. Thanks for reading. Look forward to anyone else' stories

 

Woww!! Good for you!

You reminded me of myself some years ago. I am now freelancing, but before I was working in a corporate office. I quit and went my own way freelancing and writing. People say that I was crazy to quit but I just couldn't take it anymore.

 

Now, I am in a far better place and earn far better than I used to earn.. So.. yes, I agree. As long as you have vision, you determine, and have faith in yourself.. You can do anything..

[hestylim]

Wow I am in awe of you. You have a very great plan too. We need more people like you, so pumped up and willing to take any challenge, it's risky but you'll feel more alive than compared to the bank I bet.

 

I actually have been through what you have too. I'm a registered nurse, it was not my first choice when I got to college, my parents did the decision for me. And when they found out what I was truly passionate about (Archaeology) it was too late because I was in my senior year. (I didn't take my first choice too because it's a course not offered here in the Philippines)

 

Anyway, I went through all 4 years of college, I went through my board exam, I went through working in a hospital too. When I was younger I thought I'll learn to love my profession, don't get me wrong though because I did. It's just not as much as I love Archaeology. In the hospital, I was burnt out probably because of frustration and the super exhausting work. Anyway, I took a risk, made a move to an uncharted island, and stepped away from my comfort zone.

 

I now work as a freelancer, just started this year. I have aims set SMART, I have plans under my aims to be SMARTer (lmao). When I've saved enough I've plans to invest, and hopefully start my own business, like you. I hope you succeed in your newly chosen path, and not have regrets. I hope that if you have your first downfall at this said path, you will rise back up and not contemplate on going back to your old life. Because successful people are the ones who started below and made their way to the top by not giving up. Mistakes will always be there but this does not define failure, surrendering is failure.

 

Godspeed, Liveman!

 

"It's never too late to be who you might have been." - George Eliot

"A Year from now, you will wish you had started today." - Karen Lamb

 

P.S. My mind is set on business mode right now, but as my heart is set on Archaeology, I know I'll always my find my way there.

 

This is another amazing story!! I quit my corporate job to jump into freelancer as well. I freelance for 3 years now.. The first time I started, I only hope to earn as much as I earn from my former working place, but things turned out better than I hope it to be.. It came twice as much.. and slowly everything turns out better and better..

 

I think stepping out of our comfort zone is a must if you want a better life.

I was a dropout because of financial situation, I couldn't afford to pay for my tuition at one point so I decided to quit college too..

 

I took English literature. My passion is in writing and always is since I was in junior high school. Now I am writing and freelancing..

 

And yes you will find your way there, MissJ!! Nobody knows what could happen.. I got this good quote somewhere.. it said: "My desire is God's indication that it is already mine."

 

Just have faith.. maybe your desire to business now, is the path shown to you to lead you to your Archeology career..

[Maleficent]

We use SMART at work too and it annoys the crap out of me. lol

 

I'm fine with planning and stuff but my type-B personality just wants to go with the flow.

 

 

Not that I think it's stupid for others. Just not my type of thing

[MissJmarie]

We use SMART goals at my workplace.

 

Osmotically I've generalised this practise into many facets of my personal life.

 

My husband finds this type of structure immobilising but I love them. I'm not a square pants but I will say I've done ok esp coming from a highly dysfunctional family.

 

I put the SMART goal into one long sentence.

 

Eg I will save $100 per week for our holiday so that I have $3800 by August 2015.

 

Ofcourse there's homework to do before writing that mere 1 goal completely. You need to get baseline data like know what your income and expenses are and will be. I know my income and expenses year round (more or less with 3 children still at home & 3 outside).

 

The specific nature of SMART goals keep you focussed. In addition to this great practise I use "7 Habits" material for professional and family support. The habits cycle outlined can transform your life. When I let it lapse, I lapse so it's time for me to revisit it all again. Now who borrowed that book??? It also

gets you back on track when the wheels fall off, so to speak.

 

"The harder I work, the luckier I get"

 

Lion Heart.

 

 

You have great knowledge in planning SMART. And you are so right about it, I'm glad people here agree with me. I've been telling my friends and family about it, they just nod and say they'll try but I'm sure they still haven't. Anyway, what do you mean by the "7 Habits" is it a book or is it your own principle regarding planning? May I know what these 7 habits are? Thank you Lion Heart!

[MissJmarie]

This is another amazing story!! I quit my corporate job to jump into freelancer as well. I freelance for 3 years now.. The first time I started, I only hope to earn as much as I earn from my former working place, but things turned out better than I hope it to be.. It came twice as much.. and slowly everything turns out better and better..

 

I think stepping out of our comfort zone is a must if you want a better life.

I was a dropout because of financial situation, I couldn't afford to pay for my tuition at one point so I decided to quit college too..

 

I took English literature. My passion is in writing and always is since I was in junior high school. Now I am writing and freelancing..

 

And yes you will find your way there, MissJ!! Nobody knows what could happen.. I got this good quote somewhere.. it said: "My desire is God's indication that it is already mine."

 

Just have faith.. maybe your desire to business now, is the path shown to you to lead you to your Archeology career..

 

 

Aww thank you hestylim! I appreciate it, really. And I'm glad that you've found happiness in your chosen field now. Yes, we will get there! Btw I'm also into writing, I've also desires to write my own novels someday maybe we could be each other's beta reader if the time came! Anyway, I do hope my desire for business now will eventually lead me to my Archaeology career.

 

Which is why I've been planning SMART so I could get there. I have To-Do-lists under my plans and I have plans under my goals. If we break them down into smaller pieces it will be easier and more realistic for us to get closer to our goals. So yes, I suppose my desire for business now will lead me to archaeology as one of the reasons I couldn't get there is because of financial issues as well. (I have to go to another country to study Arch. so I have to be in business mode to save up and get there.)

[MissJmarie]

We use SMART at work too and it annoys the crap out of me. lol

 

I'm fine with planning and stuff but my type-B personality just wants to go with the flow.

 

 

Not that I think it's stupid for others. Just not my type of thing

 

I suppose it depends on the person, anyway do you still have planning techniques? strategies? do you use programs/software such as excel, goal generators, etc. to get there?