Home stretch! Just five steps more steps. Just five.
The next step in the process is to convert each of your annual SMART goals into monthly “Magnificent Milestones.” Seldom does progress come in one giant step. More often it occurs because we take a series of steps that cumulatively result in a big step.
Think about the “mountain you have moved” in getting to this point in this planning process. Those of you who have gotten to this point did so because you took a series of bite-size steps. The cumulative impact is what I refer to as a “quantum leap.” But, the quantum leap occurred because of a series of realtively small actions.
You are now “armed” with SMART Goals. But, most of you likely made them SMART in the context of a one year plan. Now, we need to take those measurable aspects (the “M” in SMART goals) of each goal and to create Magnificent Milestones, the attainment of which will mean we will achieve our SMART Goal.
For an example, let me go back to the example I used in Step 22 of losing weight. You may recall, we transformed a New Year’s style resolution of “I want to lose weight” into the SMART goal of “losing 20 pounds of weight by 12/31/2012 by (1) eliminating all junk food, (2) working out for at least 30 minutes four times a week, and (3) eating nothing after 7PM (except in the case of an occasional social event [where I will forgo desert to make up for the later eating]).”
Because of all the elements contained in that SMART goal, it is empowering. But, it becomes more likely to be achieved when the 20 pound weight loss is scheduled out on a monthly basis and translated into what one expects to actually weigh at each month end. Each targeted month end weight becomes a “Magnificent Milestone.” (Important that you depict the desired state rather than the amount of the loss. Establish the clear vision of where you expect to be at each month end.)
For each of your SMART goals, prepare a written schedule showing the Magnificent Milestone you want to achieve by each month end.
In Step 27, you will be creating the Support Team to help assure that you meet, or even, exceed each of these milestones. Your Support Team will maximize its effectiveness, for you, when they are absolutely clear about where you want to be, on each of your goals, by month end.
Keep in mind that if you can’t measure your progress, then how will you know if you are succeeding? And, how will your Support Team know if you are succeeding?
If you now see that your goals were really not fully “SMART,” then now would be a great time to tweak them into a more measurable format. And, if you have resisted holding yourself truly accountable to this extent in the past, wouldn’t the new decade and a new plan be a great time to start holding yourself more accountable.
The finish line is getting real close. Finish strong and finish in style.
When you have completed Step 26, you can access Step 27 here.
Please note: If you have arrived at this step first, it is not too late for you to join other high performers who are collaborating to follow the bite size steps that are unveiled here every day. Get started here.
This blog post was written by Dave Carpenter. Dave is a prolific author, inspiring speaker, and well-known consultant to professional service firms. Besides writing regularly for this blog, Dave’s writing can be seen in leading business and personal development publications. Dave is also the leader of the Accelerate Success mentoring program where he mentors high performers in a unique program designed to do great things for the favorite charity of each participant. If you are (1) a high performer who believes you still have untapped potential, and (2) passionate about a favorite charity, you may want to learn more about this powerful program. You can also follow Dave on Twitter, on Facebook, and/or on Google+.
