S.M.A.R.T Goals

In the business world, time management is an important skill to have. Without it, there would be nothing but chaos. A great way to help with that is to set S.M.A.R.T. Goals! 

S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. 

S - Specific 

Is your goal Specific? This means that you need to answer questions such as: 

• What do I need to do to achieve this goal? 

• Where do I need to go to achieve this goal? 

• Who do I need to contact to help me achieve this goal? 

• What is the purpose behind this goal? 

Specificity is key to knowing exactly what you mean to accomplish. 

Example: I need to contact the manager at the local coffee shop to get approval to put up a poster in their store to promote our event before Thursday. 

M – Measurable 

Is your goal Measurable? To confirm that your goal is as such, ask yourself these questions: 

• Does my goal have a set timeframe? 

• When do I need to have this goal achieved? 

• How long will it take to complete this task? 

If there is no timeline for when your task or project needs to be finished, there is a lot of room for procrastination and chaos, so it is important to set a deadline for yourself. 

Example: I need to finish this project by Thursday at 5:00 PM. 

A – Achievable 

Is your goal Achievable? 

• Do you have or can you get the materials needed to achieve this goal? 

• Are you in contact with the correct people? 

• Will you be able to achieve this goal within the timeframe given? 

The last thing you want to do is set yourself up to fail. If the task at hand is not something you can get done with the resources you have or can get, you will be disappointed when there is no way to achieve your goal. 

Example: I have a connection with the manager at the local coffee shop who has said that they strongly support local businesses and would be happy to let them advertise there. I also have the means to create a poster and business cards to set up at the store to promote my business. 

R – Relevant 

Is your goal Relevant? 

• Do you need to achieve this goal for your business to succeed? 

• Or would it be a waste of time and resources? 

If your goal has nothing to do with your long-term goals as a company, DO NOT put all your energy into it when you could be working on other things that are relevant. 

Example: It is relevant to my company’s goals to bring more attention and awareness that I should reach out to the local coffee shop and put effort into creating advertisements to send them. 

T – Timely 

Is your goal Timely? 

• Do you have time to achieve this goal? 

• When will the planning start? 

• When will each part leading up to the overarching goal be finished? 

  
  

It is important to know when each part of the plan will be completed so you can estimate when the big goal will be reached. This will set a deadline for you and your employees to abide by. 

Example: I need to contact the manager of the local coffee shop today at 2:00 PM, finish the design for the business cards and posters tomorrow at 5:00 PM, and bring the business cards and posters by Thursday at 5:00 PM. 

Overall, S.M.A.R.T. Goals are a tool that, when used properly, can increase productivity, create structure, and minimize the chaos of cultivating a new business. So, stay smart!