The method of SMART goals has been the basis for sound goal setting for a long time. It is one of the best used tools by high achievers to reach their goals realistically and consistently, giving them enough room to adjust for unforeseen circumstances.

Know that SMART is an acronym for the following acrostic:

Be Specific. Make your goal as specific as possible. If you set a goal to own your own home, be specific about it. What kind of house do you want, how big will it be, how many bedrooms, with a yard or no yard, and where do you want the new home? Answer the question Who, What, When, Where, Which and Why. The more specific a goal is, the more you can find ways of reaching your target.

Measurable. When setting goals, make sure you set a goal where you can measure progress. There is a difference between saying I want to lose weight and I want to lose 30 pounds. When you set a goal to lose 30 pounds, you can measure your progress as you decrease your weight from 30 pounds, down to 25, down to 20 and so on. This will help you see progress and motivate you to keep pushing forward.

Attainable. You want to set a goal that is attainable. Based on the present restrictions such as your schedule, workload, and knowledge, do you belief you can attain the objective you set? If not, then set a different goal, one that is attainable for you in the present.

Realistic. Set goals that are realistic. If you are 40 pounds overweight and haven't exercised in years, it'd be a pretty unrealistic goal to run a triathlon with 2 months of training. So set a goal you have a realistic chance of achieving.

Time-bound. All smart goals should be time-bound, meaning they should have a dead line or there should be a date for completion. Setting a deadline reinforces the seriousness of the goal in your mind. It motivates you to take action. When you don't set a time-line, there is no internal pressure to accomplish the goal, so it gets put in the back burner.

Well, this is how you set SMART Goals, you make them specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.

Remember this, time is the true price paid for your dreams, the earlier the dream can be achieved, the more time you have to enjoy it.

Don't let other people rob you of your goals, use the SMART method and share it with others so you can help each other reach your goals.