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Well, another Thanksgiving is under your belt. Are you ready to focus on the New Year? The clock on the wall says it's time to come up with the ideas and plans that will help make next year even more successful than this one.

Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day is the ideal time to explore all of your possibilities, make your choices and set your goals.

When you set your goals for the coming year make sure they're S.M.A.R.T.

Here are the five ingredients of a S.M.A.R.T. goal.

S. = Specific, M. = Measurable, A. = Attainable, R. = Realistic and T. = Timely.

Are your goals specific enough?

If your goal is to expand your business next year, that's a great goal, but it's not very specific. A more specific version of your goal might be to expand your business by adding 60 clients in the 12 month period between January and December.

That's a specific goal. But, is it measurable? Measurability is the second ingredient of S.M.A.R.T. goals. By what standard will you measure your success?

If you can't measure it, you can't manage it.

Your goal of 60 new clients in a 12 month period is certainly measurable. You can break it down in to monthly measurements, or you can use annual measurements. Measurement allows you to watch your success occur.

Your now measurable goal reads like this: I will expand my business by adding 60 new clients in the 12 month period between January and December, at a rate of 5 new clients per month.

Make your goals attainable.

Is your goal reachable using available systems and resources, or are you setting yourself up for a disappointment?

It's hard to stay committed to goals that are too far out of reach. Here's an example of a goal that may not be readily attainable, 'I will get 60 new clients this month.'

As well meaning as you might be, your subconscious has ways of reminding you that the goal is probably out of reach.

Realistic does not mean easy to achieve. Realistic, in this case, means that the goal is 'do-able.'

Your goals should be powerful enough to put you to the test. Your goals should motivate you. Your goals should not be designed to break you or your team.

Devise a strategy to make your goal realistic.

Based on your past performance, is it realistic to think that your efforts will result in 5 new clients per month? What if the most clients you've ever gotten in a month is 2? Moving up to a goal of 5 might not be realistic. A goal of 3 might be more in keeping with your reality. Make your goals realistic and make them attainable.

Goals that are timely are set within a timeframe for completion.

Put an end date on the project to give you a clear target at which to aim.

Without a time limit there is no sense of urgency.

Check your goals against this S.M.A.R.T. formula and give yourself an even better shot at success.

Success Tip - Create well defined goals. A well defined goal is a valuable asset. A well defined goal is a roadmap for success.

Copyright 2005 Ike Krieger