Welcome to Mind Tools' Video Learning Series. How often do you set goals for yourself that somehow end up falling by the wayside? Chances are you set out with great intentions and loads of enthusiasm, but then all of a sudden you lose track of your goal. Perhaps you got distracted by the pressures and demands of daily life and work, or maybe your goal was so overwhelming that you just didn't know where to start. If you are serious about achieving your goals though, you can increase your chances of success by making them SMART. This means that your goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Let's look at each of these points in turn. First, your goal should be specific. Be precise. Ask yourself, what do I want to accomplish? Why is this important? Who is involved? Where is it located? What resources will I need? And what restrictions might I encounter? Next, your goal needs to be measurable. If you are going for a promotion for example, what training courses will you need to pass? How long will these take? And what length of experience will you need in your current role? Setting concrete objectives and deadlines like this can help you to measure your progress and stay focused and motivated. Thirdly, make your goal achievable. Your goal is to stretch your abilities, but it should also never be out to reach. Ask yourself, how can I accomplish this goal? And how realistic is it? Then examine whether your goal is relevant. Make sure that it matters to you and to your organization. Ask yourself, is this goal worthwhile? And is this the right time? Finally, make your goal time-bound. Set a target date to work towards. When you have a deadline in place, it will be easier to focus on achieving your goal and to keep other less important tasks from sidetracking you. When you frame your objectives as SMART goals, you take wooly thinking out of the equation and replace it with clarity, focus, and motivation. In short, you make it easier to achieve the things that matter most to you. To learn more about SMART goals, read the article that accompanies this video. © 2022 Mind Tools by Emerald Works Limited.