8 Strategies for Achieving SMART goals

8 Strategies for Achieving SMART goals

1. Setting goals is easy but achieving them isn�t. That�s why setting �SMART� goals � Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely � is the first step in making your goal a reality.

Make your goal as Specific as possible and express it in positive terms. Do you want to stop losing money or do you want to start making money? How much money do you want to make?

How do you Measure success? You�ll need a way to evaluate your progress and determine if you�re moving towards your goal. For example, if you want to improve your finances, then you should have a way of keeping track of income and expenses.

Is your goal Achievable? Consider whether you have the resources necessary to achieve your goal. If not, you need to determine if you can assemble everything required to streamline your process. Remove any obstacles before you get started!

Realistic goals are achievable goals, unrealistic goals are just dreams. It�s not necessary to be negative but take time to honestly evaluate whether you�re being realistic. Losing 30 pounds in 2 weeks is not impossible but it�s not very likely and certainly not healthy.

Make your goal Timely by stating a due date for your goal AND the action steps involved in achieving it.

2. Align your goals with your values. If your goal doesn�t reflect your beliefs and character then you�ll have difficulty achieving it. And even if you do manage to get what you want, you won�t be very happy. Set a goal which is meaningful to you and be clear about the consequences of your outcome.

3. Share your goals with three to five key people. Not everyone needs this strategy with every goal but almost everyone can benefit from it at some point. Finding supportive, positive people is key because you certainly don�t need anyone sabotaging your progress..

4. Assemble everything you need before you need it. This prep work is vital in eliminating the frustrating and time consuming �running around� which can derail your progress later on.

5. Minimize potential challenges. There are 3 key ways to prevent overconfidence and poor planning from creating obstacles down the line:

� Create a complete, measurable, action plan which includes all the steps necessary to achieve your goal. Don�t forget due dates for each step.
� Incorporate all your actions into your schedule. Add them to your calendar with anywhere from 10-20% flextime to help you control any unexpected delays.
� Regularly evaluate your progress. You may need to make changes or adjustments as your project takes shape. Anticipate them so you won�t get blind-sided.

6. Complete at least one action per day. Consistent actions will propel you towards your goal. Even choosing a small task will make a dent in your to-do list and may motivate you to do even more.

7. Establish a support system. Who or what can provide you with encouragement, advice, healthy feedback or a willing ear?

8. Reward Yourself. Don�t wait until you achieve your goal, especially if it�s a long-term one. Reward yourself as you reach certain milestones. Something as simple as scheduling time for yourself or perhaps a special treat that you�ve felt guilty about indulging in can keep you motivated to keep going.

Written by Merlyn Sanchez
http://www.valuablecontent.com/

How I Earned That Much ! I Can't Believe It

You know the feeling when things are not going well at life.
I was just feeling bad and emotionally injured after a broke up.
There was more to come, I have lost my job after some time.

Some of those days, I got an e-mail message was saying
you can make money online without investing a penny. It is a
classic junk message scheme they usually say that kind things
and we all receive some sort of messages. It was offering
a sign up for a paid to click site.

Click the link view the advertisers web page then after
some time is spent you get some cents instantly.
Sounded ok, there was nothing to lose. I though give a try,
at the and, at least they would not eat me.

I have noticed on that site, advertisers were offering
home based business opportunities, get rich quick messages payment
proofs etc. All were similar designed pages to sell some e book
or sort of information for some dollars. I though myself if they
know a certain thing and if there are definitions to work out,
why they give out for a small amount, why they need to do so ?

They should have beaten up the cash already.
I discovered, all the e books, information and things actually
comes out from people like anyone into online business and
offering something with fancy words to sell it to make money.
Do not believe them ! Do not spend money to e books or information
if you are planning to start an online business.

First thing get the idea what you can offer or sell or serve as
an affiliate for publishers. Think what are you good about at.
If you have better computer skills then average get the appropriate
domain name and hosting package, or just sign up for a blog.

On the topic chosen, offer valuable and detailed information to
people insert some ads to your site and love your place like your
baby. As much you give it, you will get back, patience is the key.
Do not expect too much on start, just take it as a hobby but time
and effort you spend on it will come back to you as earnings.

Give people what they need, be specific put your personality.
Do not care much the money, care about people and how you can
make impact on their life with the information you give or
product you offer.

I do not want people to spend for some sort of information
written for starters and make them spend much at the beginning.
That is why I write this article.

How I earned that much ? That is the title sentence to get you
here to read. Maybe we have been told a lot about success stories.
Honestly, I have earned by not spending much at the beginning,
because more you spend on start, expectations will grow and
patience will drop. It is just time issue starting to make money.

by gokhan pehlivan

http://www.valuablecontent.com/

Riches in Niches: Why I Became A Nichepreneur

It's safe to say that I was good at my job. Actually, very good at my job. I loved working in public relations, and invested time, energy and money into my career. It showed, too -- my clients were pleased, my supervisors was pleased, and I was pleased with the work I did.

For ten years, that was enough. I spent a decade in the industry -- ten years that gave me all kinds of skills, valuable industry insights, heaps of practical experience, and a vast network of contacts.

How much of this helped when the economy took a downturn and my employers were forced to downsize? None. Not one little teeny-weeny bit. I was out on the street with many of my contemporaries.

Believe it or not, the same thing happened at the next job.

And the next.

Why was this happening?

It was happening because I'd made the classic professional mistake. I'd become invisible.

I don't mean that I'd become transparent. Physically, of course, nothing had changed. But in a marketplace filled with a glut of public relations professionals, nothing made me stand out from the crowd. I was one of a million -- the proverbial tree in the forest. Then, when it came time to thin that forest, I was one of the first to go.

Does this sound familiar? Chances are it might. Some of you may well recognize my situation since it certainly was not unusual, nor unique to the public relations arena. Accountants, attorneys, financial advisors, marketing directors, advertising professionals, you name it -- service professionals of every stripe face the same issue. The marketplace is overflowing with highly skilled professionals who offer top quality services, yet the consumer would be hard pressed to recognize one provider from the next.

Nothing differentiates one advisor from the next. Can your clients tell which of a dozen advertising executives has the insight to handle their account? There's a real problem of sameness. The public not only views the services offered as commodities, but the service providers are also well on the way to destruction - becoming commodities as well.

I don't know about you, but personally, the thought of becoming a commodity doesn't appeal. I don't view myself in those terms. I don't believe my expertise and my passion can be interchanged for that of any of my colleagues and no one would be the wiser. I especially didn't want the label "commodity" when it meant my livelihood was subject to the whims of the financial marketplace.

More importantly, I didn't want my personal success to be contingent on the success of the people I worked for. Change was definitely necessary and it was time for me to take charge of my own destiny.

I made a promise to myself: If my ship was going to sink, it was going to sink with me standing at the helm. If no one was looking out for my best interests, it was up to me to do so.

At this point, I decided to take a good hard look at the people who were successful -- industry leaders, gurus, speakers, teachers and masters in their professions. These highly visible, very successful entrepreneurs had three traits in common:

- They were all considered experts in their fields.
- They all made substantial and on-going efforts to promote their expert identity.
- They all achieved their position through hard work and smart marketing.

I quickly realized that none of them was born an expert. Experts aren't born, they're made. Analyzing the process of how some professionals achieve high profile success revealed some surprising secrets: there are seven integral steps service professionals can take to position themselves as the Expert.

Being the Expert is the most lucrative, prominent place in any niche market. Having realized that, I had to find my own niche. If these other professionals could position themselves as Experts, so could I.

But in what niche? I looked at my career. I focused my attention on what areas my experience gave me the most pleasure. I had spent countless hours helping exhibitors be more effective at tradeshows. Much of this work included training and coaching staff members who worked the show on behalf of their company. I felt confident advising clients about what did and didn't work on the trade show floor.

The path was clear: For the past twenty years, I've enjoyed a very comfortable existence as the Trade Show Coach. It's been wonderful: world wide travel, lucrative speaking engagements, work I enjoy. Who could ask for more?

Combining my professional skills with my personal passions led to the career of my dreams: one in which my success wasn't dependent on anyone else. Being a Nichepreneur worked for me, and it can work for you!

Written by Susan A. Friedmann, CSP, TheNichePreneur Coach, Lake Placid, NY
http://www.valuablecontent.com/