It is hard to believe that, in just a couple days, 2019 will be coming to an end. This year is particularly significant because it is also the end of the decade. This feels monumental and has many people reflecting on all that they were able to accomplish over the past year – or not – and what they want out of the year to come. 

Maybe you have heard the saying before, “A goal without a plan is just a dream.” And, unfortunately, when many people think about their “goals” for the future, they are actually just dreaming about what they hope to accomplish but never will. 

Regardless of whether you are thinking about your business goals or ones for your personal life, you should make sure that they are SMART. Confused? Not to worry. Read on to find out exactly what we mean, and how you can help ensure that 2020 is your most productive year yet.

Specific

When you first set out to identify your goals for the upcoming year, you need to make sure that they are well-defined and specific. Think about the different factors that are involved and what exactly needs to happen in order for you to consider the goal accomplished. Pro tip: It helps to brainstorm and write out a list. 

Measurable

If you cannot measure your progress, it will be very difficult (read: impossible) to actually accomplish your goal. It will help if you can create milestones along the way. Put these incremental steps on your calendar to help keep yourself accountable. Doing so will also keep you motivated and excited. 

Achievable

The last thing that you want to do is set yourself up for failure. An important thing to remember here is that accomplishing a goal is not just about your own personal abilities – you also need to be considering your surroundings and any potential hurdles that are likely to arise along the way. Make sure that you have the resources (e.g. time and money) on-hand. 

Relevant 

There may be things that you would like to accomplish, but which are not necessarily in line with your business or family’s immediate needs. Considering this factor when developing your own goals is particularly important if you need to depend on others to help you achieve them. Having buy-in is key, plus it will help keep you accountable along the way – always a good thing.  

Timely

If you actually want to accomplish the goals that you have put in place, they absolutely need to have a timeframe or end date. This will help keep you focused and ensure that there is continued momentum which can keep you on track. Otherwise, other daily tasks are inevitably going to pop up and take precedence, time and time again. 

A Final Word

At this point, you have all of the information you need to create goals that you are far more likely to actually accomplish. Take the necessary time to develop a SMART plan, and you can be sure that the year to come will be incredibly rewarding – both professionally and personally. 

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