Business-Building Action from Terry L. Brock
It is often heard around this time of year that we need to set goals for the New Year. Okay, that makes sense for New Year’s Resolutions. I believe in that and do it. We often hear about how we need to set goals using the acronym S.M.A.R.T. This stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.
All of these admonitions are good. I use them myself. Yet, I’ve found that in the real world, they don’t always happen. Think about how many times you’ve set goals in the past and they didn’t work even though you followed all the components making your goals S.M.A.R.T.
There is an important component that we need to add to make goals work. Without this one component, goal-setting doesn’t work. Worse yet, if you apply the S.M.A.R.T. principles and don’t see results, it is easy to become cynical and not set goals in the future. This would be sad as goals help us to move our lives forward towards worthwhile objectives.
So, what is needed to make your S.M.A.R.T. goals work? It is something advocated by my friend Donald Cooper. Donald is the former head of Cooper Canada, the world’s leading maker of hockey equipment and a Canadian brand icon. He knows business. He knows how to get things done. Donald told me over dinner recently that merely setting goals and objectives doesn’t get the job done. He told me that it takes one more essential component. That essential ingredient is commitment. Without commitment a goal is merely a nice idea that can easily be cast aside when the going gets tough. If you don’t have the driving, “I absolutely HAVE to do this” kind of motivation that keeps you going when (not if) things get tough, you won’t make it.
This is wisdom.
A goal or objective is an ideal. It’s something that you want to do. It might be something you want to do really badly. However, when you are COMMITTED to achieving an objective, then it is more likely to get done. Having a goal is good. Having an objective is good. New Year’s resolutions are good. Don’t forget the vital, all-important motivation that you need to be COMMITTED to make it happen. Be willing to pay the price in time, money and energy to see it through.
Coupling commitment with your S.M.A.R.T. goals will help you increase your chances of achieving your worthwhile goals. After all, isn’t that what setting goals is all about in the first place? I wish you much success in setting your goals, achieving them and having a very prosperous New Year!
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Terry Brock helps organizations leverage technology like social media and mobile devices to connect with customers and increase productivity. He is the Co-Author of the best-selling McGraw-Hill book entitled Klout Matters: How to Engage Customers, Build Your Digital Influence— and Raise Your Klout Score For Success!.
He can be reached at www.TerryBrock.com or on Twitter – @TerryBrock
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