SMART Goals

Milestone Activity: Creating SMART Goals Listen Hide Assignment Information TurnitinTM TurnitinTM enabledThis assignment will be submitted to TurnitinTM. Instructions Create a SMART Goal for yourself to succeed in MyPath or in another area of your life. Explain why the goal you wrote is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time framed. SMART Goals Introduction In order to be successful, it is helpful to know where you want to go and how to get there. Piggybacking on the time management unit, it can be difficult to make time to set goals, but setting goals can also save you time and help you to prioritize. Keep in mind that it helps to set goals that you are really motivated to achieve. SMART is an acronym to help you set clear goals. SMART goals are: S = Specific – describe what you want to accomplish in as much detail as possible. For example, you may have a goal of getting promoted to a new position or getting a new job when you graduate, but that is not specific enough. Try something like, I would like to be promoted to senior financial analyst at my current company, Or I would like to get a job as a financial analyst at a finance firm that offers generous health care benefits and room for long-term growth. M = Measurable – describes your goal so that you can evaluate whether you have achieved it. For example, saying that you want to do well is not measurable, but saying something like, I want to achieve exemplary or proficient on 95% or more of my competencies is measurable. A = Attainable – the goal is reasonable and within your ability to accomplish. For example, a goal of winning a lottery is a nice dream, but not an attainable goal. Try something like, My goal is to set aside $150 a month for savings. R = Relevant – your goal is clearly applicable to what you really hope to achieve. For example, if you hope to obtain a job as a financial analyst, you might say that you plan to interview someone that holds that role to learn more about it. An irrelevant goal might be to leave your current job as soon as possible. Maybe you are unhappy in your current position, but you want to work toward the financial analyst goal rather than away from your current situation. T = Time Framed – describe the specific target completion time – longer goals that take significant time should be broken down into smaller chunks. An example would be to obtain a new job within 6 months of graduation, and you could break that down to completing your resume and searching positions 2 months before graduation as a first step and proceed with other chunks to get you to your final goal. If you say that you want to obtain a job after graduation, that is vague and not time framed. The words, SMART Goal Examples: #1 Example Bad I want to be rich someday. Better I want to retire at age 40 with $1 million dollars in savings Best By age 40, I want to retire with $1 million dollars in my investment portfolio by buying my dads insurance agency and growing it to several offices. #2 Example Bad I will get good grades. I want a 4.0 GPA Better I want to earn a 4.0 this semester by studying at least 45 minutes every weeknight. Best I want to earn a 93% or better this semester in Algebra by studying every weeknight and completing all homework. Key Takeaways SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-framed SMART goals can help you stay focused and motivated to achieve success. References Baldwin et al., (Ed). College Success [eBook edition]. Rice University. Dowd. (2019). SMART Goals [PowerPoint slides]. IT Academy.