[ad]New year, the typical time of the year when everyone sets their goals for the coming year. And so should you! Setting your goals is important if you want direction, and face it, we all need direction, or we’re just wandering around.
When you set your goals, you should set them SMART: Specific, Measurable, Ambitious, Realistic and Tim-based. Let’s first take a look at what these SMART goals are, and later we’ll see a great way to reach them.
Setting your goals
Specific: You need to set specific goals. Don’t just say I want to monetise my blog in 2010, or, I want to lose weight, but specify: I want my blog to earn me a living by the end of the year, or I want to reach a healthy BMI score by the end of march.
Measurable: This point is very closely related to the first point. By setting a number, you make your goals measurable: I want my blog to earn me 2500$ a month by the end of the year, or I want to lose 5 pounds by the end of march.
Ambitious: There is no point in setting goals if they don’t take you somewhere. Preferably somewhere further down the road. Make your goals ambitious. Very ambitious. There is no point in setting a goal like: I want my blog to earn me 1$ a year by the end of 2010. Or I want to lose half a pound in the coming 6 months. Reach for the stars! Like Michelangelo said it: “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”
Realistic: It may sound contradictory to the previous point, but however high you aim, your goals must still be realistic. Don’t set goals like I want to lose 100 pounds in two weeks. That’s not healthy, really. Or, I want my blog to earn me 1 million dollars by the end of this month. That’s just plain luck!
[ad#r]Time-based: As you’ve seen in all the points before, your goals need to be time-based. There is no point in setting your goals without timing. I mean, I want to lose 10 pounds. Yes, if you wait long enough, you will, eventually, in 150 years or so, I bet you’ll weigh even more than 10 pounds less then today… Or, I want my blog to earn 100$. Over a timespan of 10 minutes? Great blog! Or over a timespan of 10 years? Man, your blog sucks then.
But… Which timeperiod to choose? And now (drum roll)… what this post is all about: You should set your goals short. Why’s that? Well, setting your goals on a short time, will create very strict deadlines for you. This gives you no time to wander off to other things. This gives you no time to get into doubt about the better best of bestest way to reach it. This gives you no time for distractions. This gives you only time for action! And that is what you need to reach your goals!
So go out now, take a piece of paper and a pen, and write down your goals. Not for 2010, not for january, but for this week, for tomorow, for today. And then go and achieve them.
Oh, and come back over here, and share your goals in the comments, because another factor in achieving your goals is sharing them (what? Do I see you lighting a cigarette? You told me your goal was… etcetera, you get the point 
).
Setting your goals, on short term | iCan’t Internet…
Setting your goals is important if you want direction, which is something we all want. Need even. But how should you set your goals in order to achieve them? Use this magic trick
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I certainly agree with having short term goals as having a ‘close to expiration’ deadline can really get you pumped and keep you motivated at succeeding.
I like to have short term goals, medium term goals and long term goals. I then break my long term goals into chunks and make the medium and short term goals the stepping stones to achieving my long term goals.
To your success in 2010 and wishing you achieve your goals and beyond.
Regards,
Karl
.-= Karl Foxley´s last blog ..My Number 1 Tip For Achieving Your Blogging Goals [http://www.fmsseo.com/1566/my-number-1-tip-for-achieving-your-blogging-goals/] =-.
Hey Karl, thanks for commenting. I agree. Some goals in life aren’t achievable in a short period of time, and thus are long term goals. Indeed, the best way to go then is chopping them up in smaller, short time goals. Keeping your vision straight on the top-goal
Well said. I too believe in short term goal but the realistic one. However, I only select goals which I can influence. Like I don’t said goal on my page rank as I need to concentrate on traffic much more than page rank. If I concentrate on page rank, spend more time on building link then I may lose my quality of writing or lose my traffic.
.-= Arafat Hossain Piyada´s last blog ..Ask Google Team to analyze your site free [http://www.worthytips.com/google-team-analyze-site-free/] =-.
Hi Arafat, thanks for commenting. It’s indeed a good idea to set your goals on something that you can control. So maybe they should change the name to SMART-C (Controllable) goals
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I am working for my blog since last one year hoping for success, I am just testing my blogging skill by my blog. Well I have some goal also, I want to bring my blog top ten on google for keyword like “work at home jobs”, “work at home opportunities” etc also make some good money by blogging.
.-= chandan´s last blog ..Most favorite blogs of work at home blogger [http://internetjobscams.blogspot.com/2010/01/most-favorite-blogs-of-work-at-home.html] =-.
Those are some nice goals you have there, I wish you alot of success in reaching them. And thanks for commenting! Not sure if you are aware, but there’s also an article about internet job scams, or more in particular Google Scams on iCan’t Internet [http://www.icantinternet.org/2009/02/google-scams/].
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by icantinternet: Setting your goals, on short term http://ow.ly/1mMl0s #goals #achievements #blogging…
Those are some nice goals you have there.I like to have short term goals, medium term goals and long term goals. I then break my long term goals into chunks and make the medium and short term goals the stepping stones to achieving my long term goals.
Thanks for commenting! Chopping up into smaller short time goals is indeed the way to go!
Damn, I must be the only person in the blogging world who doesn’t set goals. Do you know how frustrating it is to see all these posts stipulating how important it is to set goals knowing that in the 51 years I’ve been on this planet I have yet to set one. And I am too bloody old to start now.
:Shakes head forlornly: Oh well, perhaps in my next life
.-= Sire´s last blog ..The Importance of Readers [http://wassupblog.com/the-importance-of-readers/] =-.
Well then Sire, let that be your goal: not to set any goals in this life
Most probably the reason why you are seeing all these posts is because of the BlogEngage Word Challenge… And the beginning of the new year
Everything you mentioned in this post is important when it comes to setting goals. Timeliness, specifics, measurable they are all so important.
Together these factors bring to light truly what’s needed to successfully accomplish these goals.
Great post Bjorn and thanks for participating in the weekly word challenge at blogengage.
.-= bbrian017´s last blog ..The first time I know what’s the meaning of Spamming – interesting story! [http://www.blogengage.com/story.php?title=the-first-time-i-know-whats-the-meaning-of-spamming-interesting-story] =-.
Thank you for your comment Brian! True, all these things are needed, and, the will to accomplish your goals.
Keep up the great work at blogengage! Looking forward to the next word challenge.
This is an inspiring well written post.
I decided to quit smoking in 2010 and actually did it,I’ve not been smoking since 2nd Jan 2010,is not it great? I am so happy:-)
Congrats Vince! I hope you manage to keep it like this!