Life Coaching & Therapeutic Photography with Raquel Teitler

S.M.A.R.T Goals
Don't confuse dreams with wishes. A dream is simply a wish with legs.
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WHAT IS A GOAL?
A goal is an outcome that you would like to achieve. Goals are most helpful when they are measurable, specific, are owned by the client, have a date by which they will be accomplished, made public (in order to achieve support and accountability) and constitute a reasonable stretch for the client.
 
CREATING S.M.A.R.T GOALS
Setting goals is more than deciding what you want to do. It involves figuring out what you need to do to get where you want to go. And how long it will take you to get there.
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The first step to success is knowing where you want to go. The second step is having a plan to get there. Your goals are your road map. Follow them and you'll be well on your way.  
 
SPECIFIC - Is your goal specific & clear?
“Vague goals produce vague results.” There is no place in your life for vague goals. Your subconscious mind will fulfill whatever it focuses on and if your goals are ambiguous or incomplete, then you will achieve results that are also ambiguous or incomplete. You want to make your goal as detailed as possible in order to achieve the specific results that you desire. A specific goal is one that is clearly defined in such a way that anyone could come by and understand what you intend to accomplish.

  • Bad example: “I want to write a book.”
  • Good example: “I want to write a book on time management that is at least 200 pages in length and have it done by December 16th. I’ll commit myself to writing at least 2 pages every workday until I reach completion.”
 
QUESTIONS:
  1. What is the goal to be achieved?  Make sure your goal is specific & clear and that you aiming high enough.
  2. Why do you want to achieve this goal? Why is this important to do at this time?  
  3. Identify all steps needed to achieve goal. Clearly define what you are going to do. 
  4. Example:  I will do these three things to reach my goal.
  5. What do you want to ultimately accomplish?    
 
MEASURABLE - How will I know when it is accomplished?
Always set goals that are measurable in some way. You need to establish a measuring stick for assessing the progress towards your goals because if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. A good measurable goal will be one where anyone can come up to you at the deadline and, by viewing the results, determine whether or not you have completed your goal. You also want to be able to see the progressive changes that you make on your goal so that you can judge whether or not you are reaching the completion of your goal. Select a standard unit of measurement that will enable you to see exactly how far you have come from the start of your goal and how far away from the completion of the goal you are.

  • Bad example: “I want to be rich.”
  • Good example: “I want to generate $100,000 in passive income within 5 years from this date.”
 
QUESTIONS:
  1. How will you know when you reach your goal? Be specific! 
  2. How will you measure your progress? 
  3. Record potential benchmarks & milestones and set dates for achieving them.   
 
ATTAINABLE - What is needed to obtain this goal? What conditions would have to exist to accomplish this goal?
When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. 
 
Having high goals that stretch you is important, but you need to also need to create goals that are realistic for your situation and skill level. Many people unfortunately set their goals and dreams so high that they are just not very realistic and, as a result, they never seem to reach their dreams in life. Creating goals that are not attainable is very disempowering and will only serve to demotivate you in life. Remember to set high goals, but be realistic about your goals. On the same note, goals that are too easily accomplished do not stretch you or make you grow as a person because they are not challenging enough. You will want to find that right mix of goal that is challenging, but not extreme.

Bad example: “I want to become a millionaire in 2 months.”

Good example: “I want to become a millionaire within 10 years by starting my own personal development company and doing seminars all over the world and by creating a line of passive income products.”
 
QUESTIONS:
  1. Which skills do you need in order to achieve the goal?  Make sure to list all skills that you need to improve upon.
  2. What information and knowledge do you need?
  3. What help, assistance, or collaboration do you need?  Who can you recruit to help?
  4. What resources do you need?
  5. Do you need to change or create anything in your life to support achieving this goal?  If so, what, and are you willing to make those shifts?
  6. Is this goal a priority?   
 
REALISTIC - Do you truly believe that it can be accomplished and are you willing and able to do it?
This is not a synonym for "easy or realistic, " in this case, means "do-able."  The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you are at the moment.
 
As adults we learn that while we can have a lot, we can't have it all at the same time. It's important to honestly evaluate yourself. For example, you may love to play tennis, but do you have the time, talent and commitment to become a pro?  
 
QUESTIONS: 
  1. Do you have the ability and commitment to make your dream come true? Or does it need a little adjustment?
  2. What are potential obstacles that can get in your way? When you are stuck how do you find a way to get unstuck?  
  3. What will keep me on track and motivated?  
  4. What structures will support my progress?
 
TIMELY - When do you want to get it done by?
Set a timeframe for the goal: for next week, in three months, by fifth grade. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.
 
If you don't set a time, the commitment is too vague. It tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there's no urgency to start taking action now.  Every goal that you create must be time-sensitive in nature. Not having a time element attached to your goal breeds procrastination. Goals must have definite starting points and ending points and milestones along the way. 

  • Bad example: “I am going to finish writing my first chapter.”
  • Good example: “I am going to finish writing my first chapter by 8pm tonight and I’ll achieve this deadline by spending two hours today on writing.”
 
QUESTIONS: 
  1. When do you want to achieve this goal by? Create a deadline for each action step needed to achieving this goal.


Having written goals that you review everyday is a powerful way to be successful. Check everyday to see if the actions you are taking are moving you toward or away from your goals. If you are moving closer to your goal great!  If not, identify what you need to do to get back on track.  There's no sense beating yourself up if you suffer a minor setback; just find a way to get back on schedule the following month.