Are you struggling to set goals for the next 5 years or even the next 6 months?

By Angela Turton

After such a turbulent couple of years, you may be wondering where to start crafting your goals for the future. The uncertainty and obstacles of the past years may have rocked your previous plans and left you adrift and in survival mode.  Building goals that are based on the DUMB model could help you move into a more successful future.

D – Let’s start with your dreams, where do you want to go, who do you want to be, what do you want to see and have and do?    Allow yourself to dream big, or if that is too difficult, dream small and build up. Visualise yourself in the future having achieved your dreams, write down what that looks like and feels like and sounds like. Goals need to be Dream-led.  A goal that will follow your ultimate dreams in life will be easier to stick to, easier to structure, and easier to inspire.

U – When you visualise yourself having achieved your goal, how did you feel?  Did your heart sing?  If not did you feel inspired, motivated, and uplifted?  If not then, this is probably not a true goal of your own, but maybe someone else’s that you have borrowed?  Goals need to be Uplifting.  Keep going until you can feel your whole being soar.  Some of the milestones on the way to the ultimate goal are going to be tedious, scary, or difficult, if the end game is worth it, you will persevere.

M – Can you defend your goal, to yourself and others, does your goal mean something to you, will it inspire you going forward? Often our goals have a meaning beyond ourselves, they are driven by an experience we have had or seen a loved one have. Our goals must be Meaningful. Understanding why you want what you want will enable you to keep going through the difficult times and ultimately help ensure success.

B – Our goals should change who we are, if we already have the skills, talent, and the power to achieve our goals today, they are simply items on a to-do list.  Goals should strive to make us better people and the best versions of ourselves.  Goals should then drive Behavioural change as we start actioning what we need to do to create the opportunities for our dreams to come true.

When you have clearly defined this high-level stuff, you can start to break down your goals into the traditional SMART format,

S specific       M measurable   A achievable   R realistic   T Timebound

This format is great for both the long-term goals, but also the milestones along the way.  Re-framing those points along the way as short-term and medium goals in the same as you have your long-term goals will make your likelihood of success higher.

Why not make your SMART goals SMARTY goals by adding Y Your reward.  Rewards can be big or small but should be taken immediately.  This encourages your brain to link the goal achievement to the reward and be eager for more, thus embedding a habit of success.

If you need help creating your SMART and DUMB goals and ensuring these are achieved, book in a virtual coffee with me here