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SMART Goals

When setting goals and objectives for your business, or even life in general, it is important to make sure that those goals are S.M.A.R.T. 
This is a system with which you can evaluate your goals in order to make sure that you will have the best results. The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound.
Specific:
For a goal to be SMART, it must be specific. Let's say that you want to increase sales. That can't be the end of your goal, as it isn't specific. An example of a specific goal is "I want to increase sales by 11%".
Measurable:
How will you determine whether or not you've reached your goal? This why it is important that it is measurable. There are many ways to do this, from software which tracks impressions to monitoring levels of income. The important thing is that the effect of what you are doing is traceable. 
Attainable:
It is always important to make sure that your goals are attainable. You should challenge yourself and set your sights high, but that does not mean you should set too difficult of goals.
Realistic:
This is quite similar to Attainable, however, there are differences. For a goal to be attainable, it simply needs to be possible. For it to be realistic, it also needs to be probable. When setting a realistic goal, make sure that you consider each step of your plan and mark any obstacles that may impede you.
Time-bound:
You must have a time-frame for your goals. This is a must, as most plans require a budget, and a budget pretty much requires a start and end date.
An example of a SMART goal would be thus: 
I want to meet three new people by noon this Friday.
Let's check.
Is it specific? Yes. I state that I want to meet three new people.
Is it measurable? Yes. I can easily count each new person I meet.
Is it attainable? I am writing this on a Tuesday afternoon, so yes, I would say it is possible to meet three new people before Friday.
Is it realistic? Yes. I could simply walk outside the office, and within a short distance I could easily come into contact with new people.
Is it time-bound? Yes. The end-date specified for this goal is Friday at noon.
These are simple questions you can ask about nearly any goal you set in life. If it meets all five requirements, then you have a SMART objective. If not, maybe it's time to rethink.

 Let's talk soon,
Jacob

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