A Formula For Goal Setting

A Formula for thinking about short and long-term goals Long-term goals can be reached by a SMART system of goal-setting:

Long-term goals can be reached by a SMART system of goal-setting:

Formula S pecific: Practical steps you can take to meet your larger goal M easurable: Benchmarks or “markers” the lead to your long-term goal A ction-Oriented: Activities that can help you achieve your “measurables” R ealistic: It’s okay to dream, but it is also important to keep those dreams attainable T imely: Something you can look to in the not-so- distant future

S pecific:

Practical steps you can take to meet your larger goal

M easurable:

Benchmarks or “markers” the lead to your long-term goal

A ction-Oriented:

Activities that can help you achieve your “measurables”

R ealistic:

It’s okay to dream, but it is also important to keep those dreams attainable

T imely:

Something you can look to in the not-so- distant future

Let’s Look at an example: Let’s say your “destination” is to be a professional track athlete Your long-term goal for the year, then, would be to participate in a prominent track meet, and achieve a certain time in your favorite event.

Let’s say your “destination” is to be a professional track athlete

Your long-term goal for the year, then, would be to participate in a prominent track meet, and achieve a certain time in your favorite event.

The SMART approach could look something like: Specific: Join your school’s track team Measurable: You will try and improve your time in a certain event (the 100m for example) Action-Oriented: You will run and train 3 times a week after school Realistic: Instead of trying to succeed at a number of events, you choose to focus on specific events like sprinting Timely: You can set certain benchmarks throughout the year - smaller more regional track meets for example - where you can improve your times and ability

Specific:

Join your school’s track team

Measurable:

You will try and improve your time in a certain event (the 100m for example)

Action-Oriented:

You will run and train 3 times a week after school

Realistic:

Instead of trying to succeed at a number of events, you choose to focus on specific events like sprinting

Timely:

You can set certain benchmarks throughout the year - smaller more regional track meets for example - where you can improve your times and ability