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Most of us have been guilty at some point of setting a goal that is not achievable. The key factor here is to make your goals happen in 2021 which is why we will be focusing on Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-focused, and Time-bound (S.M.A.R.T.) goals.
What is a S.M.A.R.T. goal?
Specific and Measurable
When brainstorming, you should set a specific goal against which you can assess your progress. Your goals should be quantitative so that you can measure your performance. All goals, both personal and professional, need to be measurable so you can see how far you have progressed.
Achievable
As a freelancer, try to set achievable goals. Doubling the number of clients you have is not going to happen in a week. A goal that is too ambitious can end up demotivating you as you fall constantly behind schedule.
Don’t sabotage your goals before you have even started. The most powerful motivator is to have a clear, achievable goal set for yourself.
Here are some examples of specific, measurable, and achievable goals:
● I am making 10 discovery calls with clients per week
● I am reading three articles from Forbes a week
● I am only going to work Monday-Friday
● I am posting a case story every Monday
Your goal shouldn’t sound like:
● Try to keep the website up-to-date
● Engage with clients
● Make new contact leads
Results-focused and Time-bound
We believe any goal should be result-focused and time-bound. Otherwise, you will find one week can quickly move to the next.
As freelancers, we can be our best friend and our own worst enemy, being too lenient one day and too harsh the next. One way to deal with this is through accountability. Share your goals with a friend so you can be held accountable. Giving your goals to another freelancer is a great way to reach your goals. Why not try setting up a weekly or monthly review, with your freelancer friend? They can assess whether you have reached your goal, and will give you results and a set timeframe to work upon.
Lastly, you need to make sure you reward yourself. If you don’t reward yourself over time, studies have shown your brain will lower the priority of your target goals in the future. Even if you have only moved towards your goal by a small amount, reward yourself. So, treat yourself to a coffee after reading this post!
Follow these rules when setting your goals
- Use clear, specific language
- Start your goal statement with “I am + a VERB + goal + set time period” (e.g. “ I am organizing my bookkeeping every Wednesday”)
- Make sure your goal statement meets all the letters of S.M.A.R.T. goal criteria
- Avoid using negative language. Think positive!
- Review goals on a regular basis
- Reward yourself
