Tag Archives: smart girls

Do You Have a Plan?

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Having a plan never failed me in the workplace, but sometimes it is hard to translate this to my personal life.

But I do believe this is the bottom line, folks… a goal without a plan is just a wish!

After a year of searching for a new home, we finally found “the one.” :-)  I can’t WAIT ’til Moving Day!

My personal goal this week is to pack all my winter clothes, books, and china/glassware from the kitchen.  Ok…I don’t know anyone who likes packing.  I was actually excited about it, but I’m having a hard time being objective in the “keep this, toss that” conversation with myself – so it is taking WAY longer than I had hoped. :-(

And my helpers?  Well…cute.. but not so helpful…

Time to take a page from my own book (literally!) and be a Smart Girl!

Smart Girls set SMART goals!  SMART goals is an acronym which stands for Specific-Measurable-Attainable- Realistic-Timely. This was first introduced to me in a corporate environment, and I didn’t learn what I could have from the process because I was using it to set and meet someone else’s goals.

For personal goal setting, I have found a whole new appreciation for it!

S – Specific (Do you use words like “who,” “what,” “when,” “why,” , etc.?)

M – Measurable (Do you answer questions like “how often,” or “how many?”)

A – Attainable (Clearly describe the result you want to achieve)

R – Relevant (Is this goal realistic for YOU?)

T – Timely (Is this something you should be pursuing now, or would it be more appropriate a year from now?)

A task like packing up a WHOLE house is incredibly daunting, so I’m finding this incredibly helpful in breaking up the job into manageable chunks.

A much more manageable approach that is measurable, realistic, and attainable!  Surely I can do this by the end of the day? ;-)

Do you use SMART goal setting in your personal life?  I’d love to hear about how it has worked for you.  Leave me a comment below this post!

P.S. Are you getting my FREE Wellness Newsletter that comes out every Tuesday?  If not, sign up to receive it here!

 

 

 

 

How To Hold Yourself Accountable

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Last Saturday, I gave a wellness seminar to a group of women at Uforia Studios. One of the topics we discussed was Attainable Goal Setting.

One of the questions I received was, “How do I hold myself accountable?” Great question … and often easier said than done. I’ve been listening to my followers on Twitter & Facebook this week as well, and they are asking similar questions.

The first question I have for you is “Are you keeping track of your goals?” Then, “are you writing stuff down on paper?” There is something powerful about implementing that additional sense. Don’t just hold your thoughts & dreams in your head … put them down on paper!

Now, hang that piece of paper up somewhere that you can see it every day. It reminds you of what you are working towards and keeps you focused!

The second tip I have for you is straight out of my Smart Girls Guide to Getting What You Want. If you want to hold yourself accountable, give yourself very specific deliverables. Don’t just say, “I want to run a marathon” or “I want to be CEO of my company.” Figure out a plan to get to the next level from where you are now. If you want to run a marathon and you are not already running races, start by signing up for a couple of 5Ks.

If you can buddy up with a friend who has a similar goal, this will give you an extra push to meet your goals because you are also supporting someone else. If not buddying up with one friend, how about a group? If you want to run a marathon, try joining one of the many running clubs out there. You’ll be with like-minded people who likely have a set day of the week, time, and route that they run. Problem solved!

Lastly, share your goals with your group of girl friends. Update your Facebook status, tweet, and blog about it. You will undoubtably get lots of “Likes”, a few comments, and plenty of support. I will happily be your first supporter … just share your goal with me! :-)

Go out there and get started. If you need help, ask for it! Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!!