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SMART Goals - New Trick to 5x Goals in 2020
21st Century goal setting is broken and it needs an overhaul!
If you’ve ever failed in achieving a goal, awesome, you’re not alone. Pretty much the whole world has been in that situation and experienced similar feelings.
Part of the problem, is the old S.M.A.R.T (SMART) goals setting framework. It was a great framework for the 20th century. But the SMART goals framework has just plain and simple passed its use by date.
In my opinion, SMART goals is no longer enough. You need more strategy, science, support and guidance built into your goal setting.
And that’s what I’ve done with the framework I’ve created…
Today I’m going to share with you the framework I’ve developed over the past 20 years. I developed this from studying social neuroscience, via my practice as a coach and through my own trial and error.
This framework is created for the 21st century. It will supercharge your goal setting, fulfillment along the journey and the likelihood that you will smash your goals.
Its the framework I use with my 1-on-1 coach clients for MASSIVE goal achievement and fulfillment!
But, before I show you the new improved framework, here is a quick review or (introduction) to the 20th Century SMART goals framework and what it stands for.
SMART Goals Framework Review
The SMART goal setting framework stands for:
Specific – A goal needs to be clearly defined for the brain to be able to move towards towards it.
Measurable – The goal needs to be able to be measured in some form of metric like money, resources or hours of effort
Achievable – The goals should be achievable.
Relevant – The goal needs to be aligned to what you really want in life.
Time-Bound – The goal must be bound by a date on when it must be achieved.
And, here is why S.M.A.R.T is broken:
- With typical goal setting the individual is stuck in a perpetual state of failure until you achieve the goal. This is a bad situation, it is a negatively reinforcing mechanism that tells your subconscious that you are failing because you’ve not yet reached the goal.
- This perpetual state of failure can lead to negative self-talk which for many can become difficult to overcome and increasing the chance of the goal not being achieved.
- Humans we were never created to be satisfied (content but never satisfied – always seeking to improve). The nature of the spirit is for continuous growth and yet with goal setting, the focus is all about the endpoint. If the individual does eventually achieve the goal then there is the issue of the MASSIVE let down once the goal is achieved.
To fix this fundamental flaw in the SMART goals setting framework, I’ve completely overhauled the existing acronym.
I have also supercharged it with critical additional elements, based on my research, experience and trial and error as I mentioned earlier.
The additional elements strengthen and deepen the model so that you meet and enjoy the progress towards your goals along the way.
It’s 21st Century goal setting!
And, here it is…
Introducing the S.M.A.R.T.E.R3 Goal Setting Framework
Introducing the 21st Century 5x’d S.M.A.R.T.E.R3 Goal Setting Framework.
So what does S.M.A.R.T.E.R3 stand for?
- Sticky
- Measurable
- Audacious
- Relevant
- Time-Bound
- Exciting
- Reinforcing
- Reviewed
- Rewarded
S - Sticky
S (Sticky) – I’ve supercharged the ‘S‘ by adding three sub-steps to make it super sticky for your brain!
- Step 1 – Brainstorm (i.e. mine) all your goals that you want to achieve. Write them down.
- Step 2. – Select (i.e. refine) your list of goals to about 3 challenging ones for the year.
- Step 3. – Specify (i.e. define) each of your goals into a short phrase.
- Step 4. Crystalise (i.e. shine) your goals into a bumper sticker format that POPS! Juice it up! Make it even more sticky for your brain to remember, for your body to feel, and for your heart to absorb it. Do this by adding sounds, smells, visauls and feelings (e.g. external feelings such as; moisture, pressure, texture, movement and internal feelings such as warmth, energy etc).
M - Measurable
M (Measurable) – I love this element, so no changes to ‘M‘.
Goals must have a measure, otherwise there this no way to track progress.
A - Audacious
A (Audacious) – The ‘A‘ now stands for AUDACIOUS!
Achievable is old school. And not just audacious but a BIG HAIRY & AUDACIOUS GOAL (i.e. BHAG)!
So instead of saying “I would like to earn an extra $20,000 this year”. Go bigger, try, “I will be making an additional $100,000 in passive income by (insert date)”.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals - Drop Achievable and Go Audacious in 2020!
R - Relevant
R ( Relevant) – ‘R‘ Relevant is actually a critical element which we need to re-look at, clarify its meaning and go even deeper!
So I’ve supercharged ‘R’ and added the element of ecology.
What is ecology?
Ecology is simply a word to describe what it is that you truly want. Your ecology is the deep foundational why you do what you do. It is the alignment of your spirit, values, beliefs and actions.
You’re on the right path when what you think, feel, say and do are aligned!
Ecology is not what society wants. Not what your school or your parents expected for you. Not what the TV or other media channel has told you should be or have.
Its what is inside your heart, what you want! If your goal is not congruent with your ecology then you will always find ways to sabotage because it simply is not what you really want!
Make sure when you think about this goal there is no feeling of friction coming up for you. Is this really what you want?
If there is any hesitation even for a split second? Then it’s not right, get rid of it or go back, re-think and rewrite it.
Do not carry on past this point. Because that is a monumental waste of time.
I know because I spent a long-time at university and jobs that did not inspire me.
Now I love what I do, and I’m living my passion!
Time-Bound
T (Time-Bound) – ‘T’ does not need a change. In my opinion its the best part of the SMART acronym.
Now for the Real Supercharging…
E - Exciting
E (Exiting) – The ‘E’ is for exciting. The goal must be exciting and create a buzz of energy and joy for you. To do this make sure when you write it down and you shine it from step 1 it, you actually feel it strongly inside of you that it actually compels you to take action, immediately.
R - Reinforced
R (Reinforced) – The first ‘R’ is about reinforcement of the goal and it must done regularly throughout the journey, by checking in with yourself on the goal and its meaning to you?
Is it still burning hot? Explore the feeling and adjust where necessary. Sometimes it will need to be modified to stay on your priority list.
Sometime the goal just needs to be dropped because it’s no longer relevant. But, before you do this, really make sure this is for positive reasons and not just a cop out!
And remember reinforcing occurs throughout the journey of the goal.
R - Reflected
R (Reflected) aka reviewed – The ‘R’ for reflect/review of the goal occurs after it has been achieved.
This is distinct from reinforcing, which occurs during the journey.
Reflected is a lessons learned exercise where we look at everything we learned about ourselves and how we grew.
In many ways this is the most important part of the whole framework, as it is here that we tie everything else together and reinforce the positive character traits, habits and behaviours that we developed along the journey to the goal.
R - Rewarded
R (Rewarded) – This ‘R’ is the fun part.
Celebrate, acknowledge yourself, literally give your self a high five, have a party, eat a tub of ice cream, go on a vacation, buy yourself that thing you always wanted.
This is the time to send a strong message to your subconscious that doing amazing things is fun and gets seriously rewarded!!
The S.M.A.R.T.E.R3 Summary
I hope you liked that.
Have a crack at this and let me know what you think. It has worked wonders for my coaching clients who’ve achieved incredible things with their goal setting processes and for me too.
