SMART Goals – RUBBISH!!!
Look I totally get the whole goal setting rationale, crumbs I have seen it work for me and produce the most particular results, but I struggle with the concept of SMART Goals. For those that don’t know, SMART stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Realistic
- Timed
Tell me what is a goal if it isn’t specific and therefore measurable – i.e. you have achieved it or you haven’t? Time can be considered in the same breath, i.e. It is the clock by which success in achieving our goal can be measured. Ask any so called ‘overnight success’ how many nights it took them and re-statement of their determination to succeed. That determined the ‘timeliness’ of their goal. The whole idea of achievable is a construct that implies a cop out – you see until something has been done is it ever achievable? History has so many examples of the seemingly impossible being made possible and achieved whether it is a footstep on the moon, someone recovering from cancer or managing to walk (and more) having been told that they will be wheel chaired bound for life. Surely what is currently perceived as being achievable is a limiting belief, a paradigm we accept because it lets us off rising to be the best we can be.
This all leads to what for me is the real issue, the idea of reasonable. Was this a term dreamed up on a lazy Summer’s afternoon by the an English aristocrat quaffing his gin and chewing cucumber sandwiches? Isn’t the difference between a dream and a goal the level of commitment you make to turning a dream into reality? If it is, why be reasonable? – Now is the time to be unreasonable, VERY UNREASONABLE and demand more of yourself to break through and push the envelope of what is currently considered achievable. To redefine the current measure of success so that others can follow in your footsteps knowing that their own beliefs were limited.
Take action TODAY to get back on track and lead with purpose!
I am sure Roger Bannister’s view of what was possible was considerably greater than every other single runner up to that May Day in 1954.
So I urge you, not just for your own sake, but for all those that seek inspiration outside of themselves – Dream Big, Hold Yourself to Unreasonable Standards and Achieve the Totally Possible, while others dream of impossibilities.
Play small if you are comfortable there and take responsibility for never getting out of the 3rd division. Or play big and know you gave it your all in pursuit of your potential. Every win, every trophy and every bit of happiness that will follow, you earned because you achieved the greatness inside and had the courage to let others witness it.
