As the New Year Begins, Be SMART With Your Goals
Happy New Year! Did you make your resolutions for 2025? For so many, this time of year brings a welcome sense of starting anew followed by a surge of motivation for personal improvement.
While the self-help industry may rejoice, it turns out that for most individuals, the promise that a new year might initially hold is all too quickly diminished when “real life” rears its head and propels them through the world just as it did before Jan. 1.
According to Dr. Asim Shah of Baylor College of Medicine, “88% of people who set New Year’s resolutions fail them within the first two weeks.” But is it all hopeless? How can you set goals in a way that better enables you to achieve them?
Setting Your Sights
Consider doing so by being SMART. The SMART technique of goal-setting, reportedly coined in the 1980s, helps an individual take big ideas and turn them into achievable actions or steps. Per the “SMART” acronym, goals should be:
- Specific — Define what you want to achieve. Consider this a statement of what, why, and how.
- Measurable — State the objective way you’ll measure your progress — for instance, a deadline, number, or percentage change.
- Attainable — Ensure your goal is within your capabilities and that you believe you can achieve it. Consider what resources or limits might be involved.
- Relevant — Clearly state why your goal matters to you and how it aligns with your other goals.
- Time-bound — Set a specific deadline or time frame for completion, also noting any dates for important milestones.
Getting a Closer Look
Let’s take a look at this example of setting a professional goal through the SMART format. Nelly, a dedicated professional at company X, is eager to attain a new level of responsibility and leadership to further enhance her career. Here’s how Nelly might map her approach:
- Specific — I want to be promoted to a senior role by Oct. 2 by maintaining exceptional performance standards and following company guidelines for promotion, so that I can move a step closer to achieving my larger professional and financial goals.
- Measurable — To do this, I need to sustain, for 90 days, customer satisfaction scores above 85 and tactical conversion above 40%. I will then need to complete the Senior Status Eligibility Project by Sept. 1.
- Attainable: By role-playing responses to my top two customer objections for at least one hour each week, I can increase and sustain my key performance indicators by 5% and 4% respectively. I can achieve my measurable targets by April 1 to begin the Senior Status Eligibility Project by that date. I will complete the project by Sept. 1, allowing one month for final determination from Leadership prior to my Oct. 1 achievement deadline.
- Relevant — When achieved, this goal accomplishes both financial and professional motivations, including increasing my sphere of influence in my career and moving me closer to purchasing a home.
- Time-bound — This goal includes a final achievement goal date of Oct. 1 and important milestone dates of April 1 and Sept. 1.
Clarifying the Journey
As the new year brings fresh ambitions, it’s important to remember that setting meaningful goals isn’t just about what you want to achieve but also your plan to get there. By applying the SMART framework to your resolutions, you can transform intentions into actionable steps, keeping you motivated and on track throughout the year.
Whether it’s personal growth, career advancement, or financial milestones, the key is to approach your goals with clarity, structure, and a sense of purpose. So as you set your sights on higher heights this year, make sure your resolutions aren’t just dreams — make them SMART, and set yourself up for success.
Here’s to achieving what matters most to you in the year ahead!
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