...Why SMART Goals aren’t…. and BRAZEN Goals™ are!

It’s that time of year again where many of us are returning to work after a leisurely couple of weeks (or months) of festivities and then holidays. Are you ready to hit the year running, both personally and in your business?

Many of us have been seeking successful goals setting tips in the lead up to the end of December, so that we can begin anew in January.
Have you set your New Year’s Resolutions? I hope not. We all know that they don’t work.

When I was a teenager, I used to set New Year’s Resolutions, being revved up for a couple of weeks to lose weight or make more money. But soon the momentum was lost, as really, the resolutions were just words in my head, or occasionally on a bit of paper. By month end (at worst) or several months later at best, I had completely forgotten about my resolutions, having moved onto other things that were in my mind’s eye at that point in time.

Have you set SMART goals? You know, goals that are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound? Again, I hope not.

After giving up on New Year’s Resolutions, I turned to SMART goals, and while they often worked, in recent years, as I have learnt more about goal setting, I have come to realise that SMART goals are potentially and often, limiting. When goals are immediately attainable or realistic, in my opinion, something is missing.

For me, goals need to be big and bold. They must induce some passion. They must be heart stoppingly exciting. They have to make me want to punch the air, saying: ‘Yes, I want to achieve that goal. I have no idea how yet, but it is really important to me that I do’. That’s what goals setting should feel like for me.

I want a ‘magical happening’ life, and I clearly understand, to achieve that, I have to create my own life, my way. I have a vision of sitting in my rocking chair aged 101 years and reflecting on the wonderful and eventful life I have had and continue to have – even at 101 year! There will be no stopping me.

What type of life are you creating for yourself?

So, I created the BRAZEN Goals System™, and that works much better for me. I love the word ‘brazen’ as defined in the Oxford Dictionary to mean: bold, shameless, unabashed, defiant, barefaced, cheeky.

BRAZEN Goals™ are:

B = Bold (and very big).
R = Ranked (for importance).
A = Accountable (specific, measurable, time-bound).
Z = Zealous (personally/professionally important).
E = Expedient (planned and actioned).
N = Nurturing (and empowering).

BRAZEN Goals™ in a nutshell:

B = Bold and Big

Think about a time when you achieved something that was initially out of your reach; out of your comfort zone. How did it feel to achieve the goal? On top of the world? Like you could conquer anything? Certainly that is how I feel when I achieve goals ─ both personal and professional ones ─ that are important to me.

Why settle for little or easily achievable goals? In my experience when we don’t have a tight emotional connection to the goal, we don’t achieve it. Make the goal matter. Make it bold and big.

At the start you won’t have a clue how you will achieve it, but don’t let that stop you, for if it is important enough, you will find a way!

R = Ranked for Importance

I believe we need to take time out to dream and to create a long list of goals we want to achieve. However, all goals are not equal. Some are more important than others. If we focus on achieving easier or lesser important goals, then at year-end we are likely to be disappointed. As well, often in achieving a big and bold goal, a number of smaller ones are easily achieved. So after the dreaming is done, then comes the task of ranking and ordering goals into priorities.

A = Accountable (Specific, Measurable, Time-bound)

After ranking the goals so that my top goals are the key ones I will focus on, I then get accountable with myself. I ensure each goal is specific, measureable and time-bound. If they are not, then it is unlikely I will achieve them as they are just ideas in my head until I start getting accountable.

Z= Zealous (Personally/Professionally Important)

I just love the word ‘zealous’ as it reflects me: someone who has great energy, enthusiasm and commitment. Therefore, my goals had better be zealous too, otherwise I know I will lose interest as time passes, and not focus on them.

So I ask myself various questions, including: Why am I focusing on achieving these goals? Why am I going to move heaven and earth, make big changes in my world and take massive action to achieve them? What happens if I don’t achieve them?

E = Expedient (Planned and Actioned)

Without planning for the achievement of the goals, accompanied by a set of actions, it is unlikely that much will happen. Meticulous planning and self accountability is important.

N = Nurturing and Empowering

Finally my BRAZEN Goals™ are in place, and I am on the path towards achieving them. It will not be a straight line towards their achievement. There will be bumps and bruises. There will be mistakes and failures along the way. BUT, as the achievement of these goals is important, it is equally important that I have a Nurture and Empowerment Plan to support my journey.

How will I continue to remind myself of the zealous nature of these goals along the way?

When I achieve milestones along the way, how will I nurture and pat myself on the back to acknowledge the interim achievement? That is important too.

When the going gets tough and I want to give up, how will I nurture and empower myself to remain focused?

What Next?

That’s it. I am ready to brazenly achieve in 2015. Are you?

If you would like to know more to help you set BRAZEN Goals™ in 2015 too, then please click here to receive my BRAZEN Goal System™, BRAZEN Goals Action™ template and other supporting resources. It’s all free – my New Year’s gift to you.

I hope my BRAZEN Goals System™ provides you with successful goal setting tips to ensure you have a magical 2015.

Could some guidance from me be helpful to you?  If so, please arrange a free 30 mins Skype strategy meeting with me.  Here’s my calendar to book a meeting.  I’d love to support you in some way to gain ‘seductive clarity’ in any aspect of your business or life.

Other articles on Goal Setting:

Goal Setting Tips #1
Goal Setting Tips #2
Goal Setting Tips #3