One of the most common complaints that many people have in regard to goal setting is that they are just too busy to find time to set goals. We become too consumed by our work and then by our responsibilities for our family that we get little time for personal enrichment of any kind. All these are valid points but if you are going to live a prosperous life you have to learn how to use situations that you consider to be obstacles as motivation and not as excuses. As a family, we have our individual goals, we have our family goals and our business goals. And they are posted within our home so we can keep track. 

 At first, it was a little uncomfortable sharing our individual goals with each other. I think it had more to do with fear of not accomplishing the goal because now others are aware of your goals and they can hold you accountable. There is joy when you come together as a family and set goals and it is even more gratifying when you accomplish those goals. If your goal is not important to you or if it is not something you deeply want, you probably will not achieve it. On the other hand, if your goal means everything to you, there is no excuse on earth that can stop you from accomplishing your goals. Goal setting should be fun, exciting and S.M.A.R.T. 

Specific 
Most people have goals to get promoted, earn more money, improve relationships and the like, but these are very vague goals. To be specific, you need to include the full details of your goals. Write down something like, “I will be promoted to President of my company by (date)” “I will run a 5k in an hour” or “I will grow my relationship with my spouse by going on a date every week.” Include the names, the position, the amount, the date and everything else needed to train your mind to start working toward that goal.

Measurable 
Goals need to be measurable so that you can keep track of how well you are doing. For your business or job, you can include specifics such as the number of hours you are working, the amount you are earning, the staff you are managing, etc. For the goal of attaining more money, you can include details such as the amount you want to earn, save or the number of assets and investments you want to attain. Always have important points and items to be measured so you can understand how close you are to achieving your goals.  

Attainable vs Realistic 
It is ok to set goals that would stretch you outside of your comfort zone. Make sure you set objectives that you can reach within a given amount of time, provided the current resources and capabilities you have. Some goals can be achieved faster compared to others if you have the right tools and strategies already in place. Always include a strategic plan for big objectives. 

Time-Bound 
Set “lifelines” to achieve your goals. We don’t like the word deadline, we prefer “lifeline”. Stay specific when setting timelines and schedules. For example, indicate things like “To spend at least 1 uninterrupted hour talking positively with my spouse every day starting tomorrow (indicate exact date)”. Setting the exact time and date will spur you to start working on your goals, instead of putting it off for another day and procrastinating. Some goals can take years to accomplish so it is wiser to break these down into smaller objectives complete with lifelines. 

 Put these strategies to work and watch you accomplish your goals with ease. You are worthy of achieving your goals so always remember to be S.M.A.R.T while getting them done.