We all have ambitions and dreams, but many of us struggle to make them a reality. We work hard, but lose motivation because we don’t see results. I was in the same boat until I discovered the power of SMART goals.

I joined an online men’s group with over 1,000 members who wanted to live more meaningful lives and become better husbands, fathers, and leaders in their community. It was standard protocol for us to create four SMART goals every 12 weeks.

What are SMART goals, you may ask? SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. By following these five principles, you can create objectives that are clear, achievable, and effective. Here’s how:

1. Specific: Define your goal in a precise and concise manner. What is the desired outcome? For example, “I want to improve my health by losing 10 pounds in the next 12 weeks.”
2. Measurable: Determine how you will measure your progress towards your goal. How will you know when you have achieved it? For example, “I will measure my progress by tracking my weight every week.”
3. Attainable: Make sure your goal is realistic and achievable within the time period. Don’t set yourself up for failure. For example, “Losing 10 pounds in 12 weeks is achievable for me because I will focus on healthy eating and regular exercise.”
4. Relevant: Ensure that your goal aligns with your vision and values. Why is this goal important to you? How does it fit into your overall plan? For example, “Improving my health will allow me to be more productive at work and have more energy to spend time with my family.”
5. Time-bound: Set a deadline for achieving your goal. When do you want to achieve it by? For example, “I will achieve my goal of losing 10 pounds in 12 weeks.”

Example:

To lose 10lbs in 12 weeks by following a strict calorie counting diet of no more than 1800 calories per day, skipping breakfast, having no carbs for lunch, no added sugars, and limiting carbs for dinner, in order to improve my health and feel more energetic.

Specific: The specific goal is to lose 10 pounds in 12 weeks.

Measurable: The progress towards the goal can be measured by weighing in each week to track weight loss progress.

Achievable: The goal of losing 10 pounds in 12 weeks is achievable as it falls within the recommended range of 1-2 pounds of weight loss per week. The specific tactics of staying on a strict calorie counting diet of no more than 1800 calories, skipping breakfast, no carbs for lunch, no added sugars, and limited carbs for dinner are also achievable with proper planning and discipline.

Relevant: The goal of losing weight is relevant to the desire to feel more energetic and improve overall health.

Time-bound: The goal of losing 10 pounds in 12 weeks is time-bound and has a clear deadline, which helps to keep focus and motivation towards the goal.

By setting SMART goals, you will be able to create a roadmap towards achieving your dreams. You’ll have a clear path to follow, a way to measure your progress, and a deadline to work towards. And with the help of an accountability coach, you can stay on track and make meaningful progress.

If you’re ready to take the next step towards achieving your goals, join my 12-week accountability coaching program. Let us help you create SMART goals, stay accountable, and achieve your dreams.