Preparing for The New Year - Setting SMART Goals
Full transparency, I have been working on my 2026 goals for the whole month of December. I like to spread it out over an extended period of time to allow time to review and revise. What seemed like a priority in my initial goal setting session might not be in alignment with my long term goals. Ensuring short term goals are stepping stones towards the long term vision is paramount to maximize the journey. With only a few days until the New Year, it feels like a great time to discuss setting SMART goals and aligning with core principles.
SMART Goals
To be clear, nothing about what I’m writing is new information. SMART goals have guided countless individuals on their pursuit of success way before I stepped foot on this earth. Which highlights why it is such an important topic.
Specific - What? Why? Who? Where? Answering the four W’s will provide clarity and outline key details to make success more likely.
What do you want to achieve?
Why does this goal matter?
Who needs to be involved
Where will this take place?
Measurable - Choose numerical criteria that can be used as an indicator to track progress and ultimately completion. As a numbers guy, this one speaks to me because without having something quantifiable, how can you confirm success?
Attainable - Is the goal we set realistic, or a stretch? Big goals are great to foster ambition, but failing to hit goals isn’t. Selecting targets that are just beyond reach tends to drive more sustainable growth than shooting for something out of sight. Receiving positive affirmation when we are successful can fuel the next challenge.
Relevant - Does spending time working towards this goal bring you closer to your long term vision? Ultimately, when all actions are in alignment success becomes much easier to accomplish.
Time Bound - Establish a window of time for this goal to be completed. By doing so, a sense of urgency is created, which brings focus and a greater chance of success.
Alignment
Imagine climbing up a ladder, or a long staircase, and realizing once you get to the top that this isn’t where you want to be. Each goal you set is a ladder to be climbed. Every single one that you set should be a stepping stone towards painting the big picture. When goals are guided by core principles, it makes the time you spend pursuing them more powerful. Making sure goals are aligned with your core principles and values will bring about the best rewards upon success.
In summary - GET INTENTIONAL!!!! Review your core principles, or set some that will help shape the life you want to live. Then set 30 minutes aside and draft some SMART goals. Let them sit for a day or two before reviewing them to make sure that you want to climb these ladders. At the end of it all, goals are merely guides to the journey we take. Why not take them seriously and enjoy the process?
