SMART GOALS

  It is important to set Smart Measurable Attainable Realistic Time-Keyed GOALS

 “A goal without a plan is just a wish”   (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

But what happens when you don’t meet your goals? Does this make you a failure? Of course not! There could be various reasons that you haven’t been able to meet your goals:

  • Lack of clarity– was your goal specific enough? Take a moment to review your SMART goal plan and ask yourself whether you considered all the specifics. What do I want my goal to be? Why do I want this as a goal? What will I need to reach this goal? What barriers might I encounter and how will I overcome these barriers? What sort of timeline am I looking at? How will I measure the success of this goal?
  • Lack of motivation—Sometimes, it can be difficult to find motivation to keep going when you encounter barriers, rejection, or job search fatigue. Try to use positive self-talk, review your goals often to track progress, celebrate the little successes as well as the big ones, and use your support system. Consider an accountability partner to help keep you on track and motivated. You’ve got this!
  • Situations and needs can change- Life is always changing. Our needs change. The job market changes. Reflect on how things may have changed since you first set up your goal: Do some of the specifics need to be changed? Is this still a realistic and attainable goal for you? How is this goal still relevant to your life or needs? Are your time frames and deadlines still realistic or do they need to be adjusted? Maybe you need to make some tweaks or adjustments. It’s okay. It happens to all of us.

Not meeting your goals doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it’s a chance to reassess and adjust. Refine your plan, restore your motivation, or tweak your approach. Success isn’t always a straight path; every step forward brings you closer to your goal. Keep going—you’ve got this!