If you are one of those people who are tired of setting goals, you are in good company. Many of us shudder at the thought of goals, deadlines and New Year’s resolutions because we feel that we are just setting ourselves up for disappointments. Yet, without goals, it is tough to be motivated to finish a thesis, start an exercise plan or get a job.
Goals are not inherently bad. The trouble with many goals is that they are too ambitious or too vague, and people do not even know how to go about to reaching them. Organizations on tight budgets and timelines, particularly in the corporate world, had to find a way to motivate people to reach their professional goals on time. The mnemonic that they came up with was “SMART”, which stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Time-bound
As an example, let us assume that you are on the job market, because you will graduate in six months. In six months, you will no longer receive a stipend, so you will need a job to pay your bills. A statement such as “I really need a job in six months” will put a lot of pressure on you, and might not actually help you figure out how to do it. If you decide to follow the SMART mnemonic, you can ask yourself the following questions:
- What kind of job am I looking for?
- How many jobs do typical candidates apply for?
- What types of positions am I trained for?
- Where do I find resources and support for this job search?
- What is the typical timeline for the job search? What are some shorter milestones that I can set for myself so I can find a job by the time I graduate?
If this sounds like a lot of work, you are right, simply because job searching is time-consuming by nature. (“Finding a job, is a full-time job”) The difference now is that when you begin thinking about these questions, you will actually start formulating a plan and be more motivated to follow through. If you keep up the good work, you might be among the 2% minority who keep their New Year’s Resolutions!