For some, setting goals is easy . But setting goals effectively is another thing. It gives us the drive, the go-get-them attitude. It brings us hopeful expectations in our life ahead of us. It gives us a reason to welcome a brand new day with a renewed feeling of joy. For goals are our objectives, the desired results that gives us purpose in life. Most people set goals too high for their expectations. As a result, they become too intimidated to even start because they don’t know how, when or where to begin. Along the way, some may be frustrated and disappointed that they may just quit something they never finished doing.

However, one goal setting activity that really works is the kind that is trimmed down bit by bit until it becomes a whole unit. This kind of activity is a moving, continuing gathering of separate occurrence to produce the ultimate desired results. For this to be effective, the acronym S-M-A-R-T-I-E can be used as guidelines. S-M-A-R-T-I-E stands for S-Specific-Don’t be too generic. Please specify exactly when building a goal setting activity. Present tense should be preferably used. For example, you wished to be an entertainer. What kind? Is it in the field of theater? Singing? How about dancing? Perhaps acting? If you choose dancing, which type of dancing do you like? Can it be in the more classical and refined world of ballet? Or a more young and hippy crowd of street dancing and break dancing? Or maybe you prefer a sexier type—pole dancing or belly dancing? Feeling competitive? Why not try ballroom dancing instead? There you could choose from rumba, foxtrot, jive, cha-cha-cha, or the Latin flavor of samba.

Dreaming to be a movie and tv actress? What roles do you prefer? It could be a leading role, a supporting one (e.g. sidekick) or you are more comfy being the villain or anti-hero. How about if you want to be a singer? Practice your vocal cords and choose your niche. From a crooning balladeer, a fast-talker rapper, reggae ala Bob Marley, a jazzy singer on a bar or grooving it out in RNB, the possibilities are yours. M-Measurable- Of course, you also need to keep track of your progress if you’re getting there so you can measure your performance to success.

A-Attainable – Okay, so you have your goals, you’re specific, and it is measurable. But see to it that it’s attainable by conceiving it. You have to devise it in your mind. Imagine it as if it’s already in your hands. R-Realistic- it is not enough thinking and imagining your goals. It should be within the parameters of logic and reality. T-Tangible- Your goals have to be something that’s real and existing. Something that can be perceived by our senses. I-Inspirational- It’s important to be inspired by your goals and be constantly motivated by it. It helps you to be more driven to climb higher, to pursue farther.

It stimulates your creativity into action! E-Emotion- If you become too involved in something or someone, eventually, you’ll be attached to it. Then it becomes a part of your system, it unconsciously belongs to you. Same thing with goals and dreams, to achieve them, you have to want it so bad. With these tips and guidelines applied to your goal setting, there’s no doubt that you can have that dream and goal in mind and you can say, yes, "Mission accomplished!"