Answer Three Questions and Make Your Goals Attainable

If you've done very much reading about the subject of setting goals, you've probably seen acronym "SMART."  This acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic/Relevant, and Time Bound.  That's a pretty good set of considerations, but I'm going to focus on just one in this article. 

Let's be a little careful with that word "Attainable."  Now, I have no quarrel with the fact that you need to set attainable goals.  If I were 60 years old and had absolutely no retirement plan or funds established, setting a goal of retiring on my 62nd birthday would probably be unattainable.  Retiring at 62 is not a bad goal in itself, but if I'm starting at ground zero there is not enough time to build an income-producing asset that will achieve that goal.

So, I'm not proposing setting ridiculous goals or goals that have such a minuscule chance of success that they are not believable.  But, we do need to be careful of that word "attainable."

What makes a goal attainable?  Who should decide whether it's attainable?  The answer it "You"!  You are the one who needs to believe you can achieve your goal.  So, how do you decide?  Here are three questions to help you.

Does the goal inspire you?

When you set out to accomplish a goal, you are going to change something in your life to achieve it.  You will probably need to give up some things in order to succeed in your plan. If your goal doesn't excite you, if it doesn't make your heart beat a little harder, it will be more difficult to actually make the changes you need to make.  Your goal may not inspire some of your friends and family, and that's OK.  It doesn't need to inspire them, it needs to inspire you!

So, be sure your goal is consistent with your values and the course you want your life to take.  Then be sure it will significantly impact your life in the right direction.  Be sure it's really important to you and that the accompanying benefit is worthy of your effort. Now, you'll start getting excited and inspired to pursue it.

Does the goal challenge you?

A good goal will stretch you.  Why is that?  Because, if you were already taking the needed actions and were comfortable with them, you would already be reaching the goal.  The goal that inspires and excites you will make you do new, and perhaps difficult, actions.  It will require learning new things too.  It might well require study in a new field of endeavor.

How much do you need to learn?  How much time are you going to dedicate to your action plan? How are you going to make it all fit?  Well, you're not going to make it fit unless you make some changes in your life, and changes can be challenging.

Is your goal going to make you a "better" person?  Why?  How will you be different?  What kinds of new skills and habits are you going to develop as you pursue the goal?  Do those things make you a bit nervous right now? Do they take you out of your "comfort zone"? Good!  That means you are being challenged, and you are committing to making those changes. As you meet the new challenges, you will become a stronger person.  You will also be more capable of taking on challenges for future goals.

Who can help you?

You have set a goal that you believe in.  You are going to hear people tell you that you can't do it or that it won't work.  These people are probably well-intentioned; they think they're helping you avoid a big disappointment.  Don't listen to them!

But if your family and friends can't help you make the goal attainable, who can?  Of course, this all depends on what kind of goal you've set and how much you need to learn.  This is the time to find the help you'll need.  Find someone who has already achieved a similar goal, or find someone who has been educated to help people achieve goals like yours. 

When you find that person, you have someone who can help you verify that your goal is attainable.  They can give you the advice you need to put a good plan in place to achieve your goal.  They can also help you make adjustments to your plan to ensure that it will work. 

Now, listen to that person!  They will give you good advice and encourage you on your way. They will understand what you're going through and will probably have hints on how to avoid unnecessary pitfalls.  You have just made your goal truly attainable!

Congratulations!

You now have a goal that inspires you and challenges you. You have found the help you need, and that person agrees that you can do it.  You are inspired and challenged, and you believe you'll succeed...and you will!

Biography

Dale Stuemke has learned that dreams and goals are achieved with a good plan, focused effort, good mentorship, and commitment. Humans are designed to be achievers. Visualizing the future and setting goals is uniquely human! Dale is still setting goals for his future. To receive Dale's 29-page FREE report and FREE vacation bonus: 6 Letters to Launch Your Goals: CHANGE. Visit Launch Your Goals Blog, and be sure to comment. We would love to hear from you. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed.