Having a positive vision for the future is a great start; but research clearly suggests that we’re far more likely to enjoy happiness and success if we turn our vision in to specific and measurable goals. In fact, those who set SMART goals are far more likely to achieve them than those who set vague, non-specific ones. In this context, “SMART” is an acronym that stands for:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Timed
Your challenge now, therefore, is to break down your vision in to smaller, manageable chunks that are defined in as much detail as possible, can be measured so as to allow tracking of progress, are realistic, authentically yours and finally, set to begin and ideally to be completed by certain dates.
Another way of thinking about it is to reflect upon your vision and then ask…
- What would I be doing in 6 months’ time if I’m heading towards my best possible self?
- To get there, what do I need to be doing in 3 months’ time?
- To head in the right direction, what do I need to have achieved in 1 month time?
And notably, to get started, what do I need to complete by the end of this week?