Stretch

Measurable

Attainable

Rewarding

Time-Frame

These are the 5 vital characteristics of setting a goal that inspires you to action!!

Stretch. A stretch goal is a goal that you're not on track for. In fact, to achieve it, you'd have to massively increase your determination and push the limits of what you think is possible. It should be so large that is it almost magical.

Another characteristic of your stretch goal is that it can be either activity-based or results-based. For example, let’s say you were looking for a job. An activity-based goal would be saying that you’re going to send out 10 resumes by the end of the week. A results-based goal would be committing to having a job by the end of the week. That’s big difference!!! Essentially, a results-based goal forces you to take 100% responsibility for your life and achieve your goal whatever it takes.

Measurable. Measurable goals, put simply, are quantifiable. This makes it possible for anybody to look at your goal and agree whether it is complete or not. It may require some thinking to make your goal into a structure that is measurable, but once you have it, your accountability will sky rocket. It is the difference between saying I'm going to go for a jog and saying I'm going to run a 6-minute mile.

Attainable. You goal should be realistic enough that you believe you can achieve it. When you think about it, your heart rate should go up a little and you should say to yourself, "I just might be able to pull this off!

Rewarding. Having a rewarding goal is extremely, extremely important. While you go after your goal, you will be confronted with challenges. If your goal is rewarding, you are going to be willing to work harder, smarter, and longer.

Time-Frame. Lastly, you should add a time-frame to your goal. Adding a time-frame adds a sense of urgency and will help you stay focused. In this case, it is one-week.

One week. That’s 30 days or 720 hours depending on how you want to look it. It may seem like a short amount of time, but with focused effort, you can accomplish incredible feats that you’ve been putting off for years.

Now, take a moment and ask yourself, “What can I accomplish in the next week?” The following are some examples to get things rolling:

• Launch a business with 3 paying customers
  
• Write a short book
  
• Buy a house
  
• Get a raise
  
• Land a dream job
  
• Master a new skill
  
• Have an informational interview with at least 20 mentors
  
• Get perfect test scores
  
• Read 8 books
  
• Lose 15 pounds
  
• Speak in front of a one-hundred person audience
  
• Close a major sale
  
  

Now, it’s your turn. What goal would you have to achieve to have the best week of your life?

What financial consequence will you pay if your goal is not achieved?

We've probably all heard of this hypotheticial situational or one like it. One of your parents is close to death. The only thing that will save them is an extremely expensive surgery. Unfortuantely, your short by $100,000 and you have one week to come up with the money. Can you do it? Can you save your parent's life?

Most of us would answer a resounding yes. Why? Because you can't bear the consequence of a no.

Now, what if you created a consequence for not achieving your goal that motivated you in the same way? The size of your consequence therefore shows the size of your determination!

Friedrich Nietzsche, the famous 19th century philosopher said, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” Similarly, if you get your consequence right, you will be willing to do anything to achieve your SMART goal.