Smart Goals: Do They Live Up to the Hype?

For the last ten years of my life, I have always been told that I need “S.M.A.R.T.” goals.

What are smart goals?

Specific. They are very detail oriented and outlined to the T. To the point where you can picture what you have. I think I was told that you need to be able to imagine having these things and then they will manifest in your life, much like what that movie, The Secret talks about.

Measurable. You are able to keep analytics towards your goals to ensure that you hit and achieve every milestone. There should be a set way to keep track of the data you establish.

Attainable. The goal has to be attainable. You make sure that your goals are something that you could actually do. Such as making $100 in your first week. Acquiring a customer on your first month. Something simple and easy to do. Your goals should have stepping stones, so you are able to go from achieving one goal onto the next.

Realistic. These goals can’t be too far-fetched, especially when you have to consider what platform or company you’re working for. If you’re working in sales, you can’t expect to make a million dollars in one year. If you own your own business, you can’t expect to take a $100 million exit within the first 18 months. Your goals need to be realistic and not far-fetched.

Timeline. The last part of this smart goal program is the timeline. This is a deadline for when you need to achieve your goal by. This is how you know that you can actually achieve your goal. Sometimes, things don’t go your way, so you need to tie in some time to consider holidays and other special events that may limit you from your production. Your goals need to be kind of adjustable, but not with too much leeway.

This list of Smart Goals has been preached to me, year after year after year. I was told that this is the blueprint to success.

I find all of this to be an absolute lie.

Goals don’t get you anywhere.

They just lead to depression and disappointment.

I put all these expectations upon myself and the companies I worked for to achieve success.

I thought that I was going to attain all my goals.

I thought I would be rich, powerful, and my name would resonate success.

I missed nearly every single milestone I went after. EVERY. SINGLE. MILESTONE.

I was sad, depressed, and miserable that I couldn’t even follow an outline that I made for myself!

How much of a loser do you have to be when you can’t even hit your own milestones?

I bet, if you decided to look through the dictionary, you would find pictures of me when you type in my name.

Hey… That’s a really idea… MAYBE I should upload a ton of pictures of myself and title them loser, so when you Google LOSER, all you find is pictures of me! Wouldn’t that be so cool!?!?!

Well anyways…

Nowadays, I don’t even know what a goal is. I don’t even want material things. I just want to live my life and do what I do, and if things come my way, then great. If not, then no big deal.

Okay, I kind of told a bit of a bit of a fib. I want one materialistic thing…

I want a Blancpain Villeret watch in gold. But I have absolutely no timeline for when I want it. Okay, I lied again. I want two things… I want a Jaguar E Type, so it can spend 3 out of every 4 weeks in the repair shop. I love visiting mechanics. It reminds me of my job.

However, do I really want those two things? Not really… But if I get the money to buy them, I don’t see why I wouldn’t. They’re not really goals of mine, however. They’re just like little thoughts that just fly around here and there in my mind. So I don’t even put either of these things in my smart goal list, because I don’t really care if I get them or not. They’re just things, after all.

So, basically… I’m smart goalless…

I’m just lost in my own world, working on what I do best. The jobs that I’ve been assigned to do. Coincidentally, since I enjoy working, my work is harvesting fruits. I’ve been reaping the seeds to life, and seeing if I could grow anything. No expectations at all. No birds to chase. No worries anywhere at all.

I just keep planting my seeds.

Now, things are starting to grow.

How is this possible?

I thought we were supposed to have smart goals to achieve the success we wanted, is this not true?

Well, it seems to be the case.

Things are slowly changing in my life.

My harvests are about to be reaped.

Are things changing in yours?

Are you on track to achieving your smart goals?

How have your smart goals been working out for you?

Do you find them to be a good outline for what you do? Or do you think they’re just another a scam that leads up to disappointment like I do?

Originally posted on Quora.

Leonard Kim is Managing Partner at InfluenceTree. At InfluenceTree, Leonard and his team teach you how to build your (personal or business) brand, get featured in publications and growth hack your social media following.

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