In recent months I have been reading about how to keep my goals SMART, which is an acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.

• S—Specific.
  Is your goal specific and well-defined? Effective goals offer sufficient direction as to where exactly you want to go. To set specific goals, ask yourself: “What do I want to achieve? What does that achievement look like? What steps do I need to take to get there?” The more details you write down, the better.
• M—Measurable.
  Can you track your goal? If not, how will you know if you’re making progress? To set measurable goals, avoid vague words such as “better” and “more” and stick to action words like “create,” “produce,” and “solicit.” Then, turn those words into quantifiable benchmarks by adding dates and precise amounts. For example: “I will create 10 new designs by next Friday.”
• A—Attainable.
  Is this goal attainable? If you set a goal that you can’t realistically achieve, your only achievement will be frustration and disappointment. While “becoming an expert furniture designer in three months” sounds great, if you have no design skills, this ambition isn’t attainable. To set attainable goals, keep your objectives challenging but realistic. Map out the steps you plan to take to reach your goal and then ask yourself, “Do I have enough resources, time, and funds to make this happen?
• R—Relevant.
  Is this goal relevant to you? It’s easy to fall into the trap of setting goals that look good on paper but don’t align with what you really want. To set relevant goals, ask yourself: “Why do I want to reach this goal? Do I think it’s worthwhile? Will I be able to stay committed in the long run?” Before setting a goal, make certain it means something to you.
• T—Time-Bound.
  Does your goal have a deadline? Without a time frame or target date, it’s easy to procrastinate on a goal and make excuses such as, “What’s the harm in taking a few days off?” To keep your goals time-bound (and create that internal pressure) focus on building long- and short-term deadlines, marking those dates on your calendar, and setting reminders.

With the SMART goals in mind, I have decided to complete a smaller goal first and that is get the web site live. The demo system and the paid for system will not be there, but all the rest of the stuff will. So now that I have a smaller goal, I need a deadline, so here it is, I must have the web site live by the end of February.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay