S.M.A.R.T. is an acrostic for setting better goals –
meaning, goals we actually have a chance of achieving. As Women on Writing
wrote, waiting until New Year to set goals is silly. It’s never too
early or late to set goals. Let’s face it – procrastination is an epidemic.
Leaves us feeling guilty, stressed, and unfulfilled. Our reasons for
procrastinating are various and sundry, and article upon article has been
written about fear of success, fear of failure, poor organization, time
management, and the list goes on and on.
For now, though, putting the excuses aside, our goal is simply setting smart
goals in the first place. Who knows? This could alleviate the need for some of
those excuses.
In fact, here’s a bit of trivia to help motivate and
encourage you. The number 12 is a symbol of completion. Something will be
completed or perfected, and this is the year to accomplish it. So whether
you’re on-track (it’s April, so that would be at least a quarter of the way toward
reaching your goal by the year’s end), or haven’t taken the first step toward
your goal (maybe you’ve written it down…or not), the following articles will
help save you some time by focusing your efforts or getting you off to a good
start. We all have goals – some major, others not so much, but the key is to
stop dreaming about them (although dreaming is good, too) and start working toward them, no matter what time of
year.
To increase the chance of reaching goals, they should be :
S – Specific and
significant
M – Measurable and meaningful
A – Attainable and
action-oriented
R – Relevant and
rewarding
T – Time-bound and
trackable
Just for fun, one of my diva sisters has some great deals on her new release! Come back & get these goal setting sites later.
http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html
- tips to improve goal-setting
http://writeitforward.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/goal-setting-for-writers-for-2012/
- Bob Mayer’s blog
http://selfpublishingteam.com/15-minute-no-excuses-goal-setting-for-authors/
- Practical advice from Shannon & Toni
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2011/11/goal-setting-for-writers.html
- Another non-New Year post about goal setting
Comments
I think the main problem many writers have with goals is making them too grand.
However - it's also important for an author to be willing to detour from the path he or she has mapped out, when inspiration strikes. Being too rigid about one's plans can stifle creativity.
~ Lisabet
"Imagination is the ultimate aphrodisiac."
Visit Lisabet Sarai's Fantasy Factory
http://www.lisabetsarai.com
Venture Beyond Romance
http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com
Join Lisabet's List
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lisabets_list