As the new year approaches, it seems natural that goals should be in the front of our minds. We aren’t talking about new year’s resolutions, though. A goal is a written statement of what you want to achieve by a set point in time. New Year’s resolutions don’t usually work that way, do they?

When you set your goals, remember they must be S-M-A-R-T:

S pecific. You should describe your goals specifically. For example, I want to increase my business revenue by $1M in 2000 rather than I want to increase fees.

Measurable. Your goal should be measurable. This will enable you to see how far you’ve come and how much farther you have to go.

Attainable. Goals should be attainable. Setting out to climb Mt. Everest when you haven’t even climbed a hill isn’t an attainable goal. Nor is increasing your business if you don’t have proper marketing and sales functions in place. Set yourself up for a win, not a lose.

Realistic. Reality rears its ugly head often. In relation to goals, you need to work with reality to realize your goals. If you have never been able to sing, it doesn’t make sense to set a goal that you want to be in the community opera.

Tangible. Good goals are tangible. If you say you want to be “successful.” What does that mean? What are the tangible things behind it that will let you know when you’ve achieved your goal?

Finally, remember to write down your goals. Something happens when you take that goal out of your mind and set it free on paper. Good luck!